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A Bailey bridge collapsed under the force of floodwaters in Sherpur’s Nalitabari upazila on Monday, sending three people, including two children, into the river.
All three survived after swimming to safety.
The incident occurred around noon in the Noyapara-Dakshin Sannyasibhita area of Bagber Union as heavy rain and a rush of water from the hills caused the Chellakhali River to swell.
Locals said the river rose rapidly due to a surge of water flowing down from India’s Meghalaya.
Much of the bridge was submerged before the strong current eventually caused it to collapse.
The three people on the bridge fell into the river but managed to swim to the bank, locals said.
The collapse has severed road communication between several nearby villages, including Noyapara and Dakshin Sannyasibhita. Locals said the bridge, popularly known as “Mayer Bridge”, was the only communication link for residents living on the western bank of the river.
They also said a Bailey bridge built at the same location had previously been swept away by floodwaters. The current bridge was rebuilt around 2020.
Students, farmers and other residents have been particularly affected by the collapse, locals said.
Meanwhile, floodwaters from the Chellakhali River were flowing forcefully over the Sherpur-Nalitabari-Gazir Khamar road at Gollarpar, halting traffic since Monday morning.
Several sections of a rural road in the Ranigaon area were also damaged by erosion.
In Jhenaigati upazila, rising water levels in the Someshwari River triggered strong currents and erosion in the Ayanapur and Karagaon areas.
Floodwaters from the Maharashi River also entered Jhenaigati Sadar Bazar through an old breach at Ramerkura, inundating several shops and causing losses and hardship for traders.
Sudipta Chowdhury, executive engineer of the Sherpur Water Development Board, said the Chellakhali River was flowing 324 centimetres above the danger level at 9am on Monday.
By 3pm, the water level had fallen to 54cm above the danger level, standing at 21.94 metres.
The Someshwari and Maharashi rivers were flowing at 24.17 metres and 21.62 metres, respectively, he said.
The water levels of the rivers began to recede as rainfall eased after noon.
,The situation is expected to improve further if there is no fresh heavy rainfall or additional inflow from upstream, the official said.