Communication between Kishoreganj upazila and Nilphamari district headquarters is badly disturbed for over a week as the approach road and guide wall of a new bridge over the Charalkhata river at Bajitpara village on Nilphamari-Kishoreganj road via Panchapukur in Sadar upazila collapsed at several places.

Now only small vehicles like rickshaws, battery-run easy-bikes, motorbikes and pedestrians can use the way while heavy mechanized vehicles are using an alternate way covering additional 7 to 8 kilometres, locals said.

The bridge and approach road, built by construction firm Islam Brothers at a cost of Tk 6 crore, was made open for vehicular movement on March 31 last year, said Saiful Islam, Sadar upazila engineer of Local Government Engineering Department (LGED).

Visiting the affected area on Wednesday, this correspondent found that the approach road and guide wall collapsed at three points at east end of the bridge and six points at the west while sand beneath the structures seemed loose.

“No drain or outlet was made on both sides of the bridge for smooth exit of rainwater and consequently, pressure of water due to the recent heavy rainfall led to the collapse of the approach road,” said Mahatab Hossain, member of ward No 8 of concerned Kachukata union parishad (UP).

Khagendra Nath Roy, a local resident, said the approach road was constructed with sand extracted from the nearby riverbed but proper compacting work was not done, leaving the site vulnerable.

Several others including Rashidul Islam of Bajitpara village of Sadar upazila to bridge’s west and Milu Chowdhury of Kalikapur village of Kishoreganj upazila to the east expressed fear that the approach road and the guide walls might be washed away as floods are expected during the ongoing rainy season.

Executive engineer of LGED in Nilphamari Belal Hossain admitted the situation and said he had directed the construction firm to take immediate steps to restore usual movement on the bridge as the mandatory 18-month maintenance period is yet to expire.