Over 10 lakh people of three upazilas in the district are facing untold suffering as Patuakhali-Dashmina via Baufal alternative road has become unfit for use due to lack of renovation.

Meanwhile, rain adds to the woes of the residents during the monsoon as rainwater fills up the potholes on the road built by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) 20 years ago.

During a visit, this correspondent found potholes filled with water after unexpected rainfall of last Friday and Saturday.

To ease communication to Dashmina and Baufal upazilas from the district headquarters, RHD built the 10 km alternative road stretching from Lohalia to Kashipur that reduces about 13 km road distance between Patuakhali and Baufal and at least 25 km between Patuakhali and Dashmina upazila.

In 2011, RHD handed over the road to the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) so that local people can use it easily by crossing the Lohalia River to the east of the district town by boat.

Before building of the road, the distance between Patuakhali and Baufal was about 40 km while Patuakhali and Dashmina about 60 km, said locals.

Md Uzzal Khan, a businessman of Kalaiya Bazar in Baufal upazila, said as a number of potholes developed on the road, they have to use it with risk.

Despite repeated pleas, the authorities are yet to take any steps to renovate the road, said advocate Jasim Uddin of Kashipur area.

Advocate Gazi Shahid, a resident of Dashmina upazila town, said the authorities concerned should take immediate steps to repair the road to mitigate sufferings of local people.

Md Mojibur Rahman, chairman of Baufal Upazila Parishad, said they have already informed local LGED about the matter.

Contacted, Abu Saleh Md Hanif, executive engineer of LGED, said they are taking immediate steps to repair the road.