The collapse of a dilapidated Bailey bridge over the Khirai River at Khamarpara in Daudkandi has disrupted a key road link between Chandpur and Dhaka, leaving thousands of commuters from several upazilas facing prolonged travel and increased costs.

The bridge on the Chandpur-Matlab-Daudkandi-Dhaka road collapsed abruptly on August 1, causing severe disruption to people from Chandpur Sadar, Matlab South, Matlab North, Faridganj, Hajiganj and Haimchar who regularly use the route to travel to Dhaka.

Local residents said the bridge came crashing down while a bulkhead carrying several thousand bricks was slowly passing underneath it.

The vessel sank in the river following the accident while its 16-17 workers managed to swim ashore and escape unharmed, they said.

The workers lost their mobile phones, cash and other valuables in the river.

A visit to the area found local residents and students crossing the river in small boats since the bridge collapsed.

The collapse has also caused major problems for patients and emergency travellers who previously used the route as a relatively direct connection to Dhaka.

Local drivers Mofiz Bakau, Faruk Mia and Kabir Hossain said hundreds of vehicles used the route every day, helping people from the six areas reach Dhaka in a shorter time.

They said vehicles now have to take a detour of around 15-20 kilometres via Gouripur, resulting in additional travel time, fuel consumption and fares.

Abdul Hamid, an ambulance driver at Chandpur District Sadar Hospital, said the disruption is particularly difficult for people transporting critically ill patients to Dhaka.

Mojahidul Islam, Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) engineer of Daudkandi upazila, said a new permanent bridge would be constructed at the site.

The government has allocated Taka 6 crore for the new concrete bridge, and preliminary work has already begun, he said.

He said a contractor has been assigned to remove the nuts and bolts from the old, weakened Bailey bridge.

The accident occurred due to flaws in the contractor’s work, the engineer said without providing further details.

He, however, could not say when direct road communication through the site would be restored.

Local residents have urged the authorities to urgently build a temporary alternative bridge beside the collapsed structure to restore movement until the permanent bridge is completed.