OUR CORRESPONDENT, Mymensingh

Communication between Dhobaura upazila and Mymensingh city through Tarakanda remained snapped after a Bailey bridge over the Kangsha river in Dhobaura collapsed yesterday morning.

UNO Mosharraf Hossain of Dhobaura, said the bridge in the Goatola Bazar area collapsed as soon as a sand-laden truck got on it around 4:00am.

No casualties or injuries were reported. However, the collapse halted all vehicular movement on the Tarakanda-Dhobaura main road, causing severe suffering to thousands of people on both sides of the river, including students, office workers, traders, and regular commuters.

The bridge over the Kangsha river is one of the main communication links between Dhobaura, nearby areas, and the district headquarters. Hundreds of motorcycles, auto-rickshaws, pickup vans, small vehicles, and pedestrians use the route every day.

Locals said different parts of the ageing bridge had become weak, but no repairs or alternative arrangements were made despite its poor condition.

After the collapse, the bridge and the truck fell onto a dry section of the riverbed. As vehicles can no longer cross, locals said serious difficulties have emerged in transporting emergency patients, students, agricultural products, and goods.

The bridge was declared risky nearly 10 years ago, said the UNO, who visited the spot soon after the incident.

Officials from the administration and the Roads and Highways Department were present at the scene. Necessary steps are being taken to repair the bridge or establish an alternative communication system as soon as possible, the UNO said.