Road collapses in Mathbaria due to tidal surge
A main road in Mathbaria has been completely cut off from the rest of the country due to the strong tidal surge of the new moon. Thousands of people in the upazila are suffering as all types of vehicles have been closed on that road for the past four days. Students and daily wage earners in particular are in extreme distress.
According to local sources, about 10 to 12 feet of the road in front of Mirukhali College on the Amua-Mirukhali-Safabazar road of the Roads and Highways Department (SOWJ) has completely collapsed due to the strong tidal surge. As a result, the residents of five villages of Wahedabad, Mirukhali, Chhotaharji, Daudkhali and Chalitabunia in the upazila have been practically blocked for the past four days. Due to the sudden collapse of the road, students studying in schools, colleges and madrasas are facing extreme suffering every day. Many are forced to travel on foot, taking risks. Due to the communication being cut off, the drivers of battery-powered auto-rickshaws, vans and rented motorbikes plying on this road are in extreme financial crisis. They and their families are in crisis due to the sudden stoppage of income. The victims said that they are constantly under pressure to pay the installments of loans taken from various NGOs. Auto-rickshaw driver Md. Sohrab expressed his anger and concern and said, “Both income and expenditure decrease during the rainy season. On top of that, driving on the road has been completely stopped for four days. There is no income. Now I cannot go to the NGO people for fear of asking for installment money, I have to run away.” Pirojpur Souj Deputy Assistant Engineer Md. Russell said that every year during the rainy season, the strong pressure of tidal water causes erosion at various places on this road and communication is cut off. The matter has already been reported to the higher authorities in writing. He also said that emergency repair work has been started on the road to reduce the suffering of the people and restore the communication system quickly.
