Four Children Drown as Brahmaputra Floating Bridge Collapses

In a tragic incident on Saturday afternoon, a floating bridge over the Brahmaputra River in Dewanganj Upazila, Jamalpur, collapsed, resulting in the deaths of four children and leaving two others missing. The accident occurred around 5:00 pm near the Dewanganj Police Station.

Victims and Missing Children

Authorities and local sources have identified the deceased children as follows:

Two children remain missing, though their identities have not yet been confirmed.

Incident Details

Local residents reported that during the Eid holiday, a large crowd had gathered on the floating bridge to cross the Brahmaputra. The bridge, unable to bear the excessive weight, suddenly gave way. Several people fell into the river, with many managing to swim to safety. However, five children were reported missing in the chaos.

Dewanganj Fire Service teams, alerted immediately, launched a swift rescue operation. With assistance from local volunteers, the teams recovered the bodies of four children. One child, named Shanti, sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment at Dewanganj Upazila Health Complex.

Fire Service leader Mubin Khan stated at 8:30 pm on Saturday, “We have retrieved four bodies so far. Rescue operations are ongoing, and we are continuing our efforts to locate the missing children.”

Safety and Preventive Measures

The incident has prompted authorities to warn against overcrowding on floating bridges and to emphasise safety precautions, especially during festive periods. Plans are underway to conduct regular structural inspections and maintenance of all floating bridges in the area to prevent future tragedies.

This unfortunate accident has left the local community in deep shock. The collapse highlights the urgent need for rigorous safety measures for temporary and floating infrastructure, particularly in heavily populated areas. Authorities have urged residents to exercise caution while using such structures and to report any visible weaknesses immediately.

The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by overcrowding on floating bridges, particularly for children, and underscores the critical importance of preventive oversight and timely maintenance to avert similar incidents in the future.