Under-construction bridge collapses, 4 workers hurt

At least four labourers were injured as an under-construction bridge on Neta Canal under Rangabali upazila in the district collapsed at around 11:00am yesterday.

The injured, Sujon, 27, Nasir, 30, Shipon, 28, and Bashir, are undergoing treatment at Rangabali Upazila Health Centre.

A 40-foot-long and 14-foot-wide bridge is being constructed on the canal at a cost of around Tk 32 lakh under Relief and Rehabilitation Project. A part of the bridge suddenly collapsed soon after construction of the floor started, injuring the four labourers. Locals took them to the health centre.

Tapan Kumar Ghosh, upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO), said the bridge collapsed as the centring was displaced due to tidal surge.

"We stopped the work immediately, and steps will be taken to repair the bridge very soon," he added.

Locals claimed that low qualities materials are being used in the construction work, but nobody mentions it as the contractor is an influential man.

Md Saiduzzaman Mamun Khan, contractor of the project and also the local UP chairman, said, "I don't know anything. The office concerned can tell you what you want to know."