Bailey Bridge Collapse Injures Four in Gopalganj

A Bailey bridge in Gopalganj collapsed on Sunday morning after being overloaded by a sand-laden truck, sending a vehicle plunging into a canal and injuring four people. The incident has brought traffic to a complete standstill on the district town’s main connecting road, triggering widespread disruption for residents, students, and local businesses.

The accident occurred at approximately 8:00 a.m. when a ten-wheel truck carrying sand was crossing the Pachuaria Bridge en route to Ghonapara. Witnesses reported that as the heavily loaded vehicle moved across the Bailey structure, the bridge suddenly gave way without warning. The truck fell into the adjacent canal, dragging with it an electric three-wheeler and a bicycle that were also on the bridge at the time.

Among the injured were the truck driver, the helper, and the driver of the electric three-wheeler, along with another individual who was nearby. All four were given primary medical treatment shortly after the incident. However, recovery operations for the submerged truck had not begun at the time of reporting.

Locals have expressed frustration over what they describe as long-standing negligence in infrastructure maintenance and traffic management. Residents of the Pachuaria area said there were no warning signs indicating that the bridge was structurally vulnerable. They also alleged that the overloading of heavy vehicles had repeatedly been ignored despite objections from the community.

A local resident, Sagar Ahmed, said that the absence of precautionary signage and enforcement contributed directly to the disaster. He added that repeated warnings from residents about heavy transport crossing the bridge went unheeded.

Another resident, Shafiqur Islam, noted that the bridge served as a crucial daily route for trade and commuting. With its collapse, travellers will now be forced to take an additional detour of approximately 1.5 kilometres, significantly affecting daily movement and economic activity.

Students have also been severely affected. A sixth-grade student, Subh Biswas, said he now faces a longer and more difficult route to school and private tuition, as the bridge was the primary connection between his home and educational institutions.

Officials from the Roads and Highways Department stated that reconstruction work has already begun and that the bridge is expected to be reinstalled within two to three days. They also acknowledged that no diversion road had been included in the original construction plan due to limited space at the site.

Historically, the site underwent major changes in November 2022 when a road cut reconnected the Madhumati River channel with the Pachuaria canal, and two Bailey bridges were installed to facilitate traffic flow. One of these bridges had already been removed earlier, increasing pressure on the remaining structure.

Incident Summary