Collapsed PWD bridge poses threat

The sudden and untimely collapse of a PWD footbridge on Noa river at Kalaigaon,connecting Ward No.7 with Singrimari in the heart of Kalaigaon town has posed serious threat to people's safety. The wooden foot bridge was constructed in the year 1980. The foot bridge had been in a dilapidated stage for last five years due to sub standard work and use of cheap ordinary timber.Most of the amount sanctioned for its regular repairing had been misappropriated by contractors and PWD officials causing final collapse in the night of October 9 at 7 PM. A few persons,who had been walking over it were also injured. According to information use of ordinary timbers like Mango etc had been the cause of the collapse. People also allege that huge amounts of money had been spend in the name of its regular repair. Jagadish Sarkar,MCLA,BTC visited the site recently. But only a 'Road Closed' sign board has been placed by PWD at either ends of the bridge till today. This correspondent witnessed people walking over the collapsed bridge posing threat to themselves. People of Kalaigaon urged PWD authority immediately to reconstruct the foot bridge and to seal both the ends in the interest of public.