A bridge over a branch canal of the Dhonagoda River in Daudkandi upazila of Cumilla has been lying in a dangerous condition for nearly five years, putting thousands of people at risk as schoolchildren, patients, farmers and others continue to use it for lack of an alternative route.

The bridge, connecting the Harina Bazar-Bhabanipur South Hindu Para area in Panchgachia West Union, was built around 15 to 20 years ago.

According to locals, cracks developed after one of the bridge's central pillars subsided. The pillars have since weakened further, while several sections of the bridge have collapsed.

A visit to the area on Thursday found school and college students, pedestrians, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and motorcyclists continuing to use the damaged structure despite the risk of accidents.

Locals said residents of Guchhagram, Bhabanipur, Thetalia, Tulatali, Nalchak, Nayachar, Panchgachia, Bazarkhola North, Bazarkhola South and Shaithardia regularly use the bridge.

Students, employees, traders, farmers and patients from these villages have to cross the bridge every day as there is no alternative route, they said.

Students are among the worst affected, as they have to risk crossing the bridge to attend schools and colleges. Patients also face difficulties as CNG-run auto-rickshaws carrying them to hospitals have to use the hazardous structure.

Farmers are also suffering as heavy vehicles cannot cross the bridge, making it difficult to transport agricultural produce to markets.

Russel, a student of Durgapur Primary School, said he feels frightened every time he crosses the bridge.

"My heart pounds whenever I step onto the bridge. I feel as though the remaining section could collapse at any moment, sending me into the water below," he said.

Local residents Md Sarkar Arif and Md Shakil Ahmed Chowdhury said the bridge has remained in a dangerous condition for nearly five years.

Thousands of people cross it every day at great risk. Students go to school in fear, while transporting patients to hospitals is also difficult, they said, adding that CNG-run auto-rickshaw and motorcycle drivers also have to use the bridge despite the danger.

Md Asif Kabir, convener of the Cumilla North District unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, said he has never seen a bridge in such a condition in Daudkandi.

"Only local residents can truly understand the hardships they face while commuting," he said, urging the authorities to construct a new bridge immediately to end their suffering.

Locals said the bridge is important not only for daily communication but also for transporting agricultural produce, taking students to educational institutions and carrying patients to medical centres during emergencies.

With no alternative route, they said, people are forced to use the hazardous structure despite the risks.

Daudkandi Upazila Local Government Engineering Department Engineer Md Jahidul Islam said a proposal to reconstruct the bridge has already been sent to the department concerned.

He said the bridge is among seven or eight structures in the upazila that were in critically dangerous condition and at risk of becoming unusable. "We have prepared a list of these bridges," he said.

The engineer said a list of around 70 bridges in need of repair has also been prepared and a written request sent to the LGED headquarters.

"Work on preparing the Development Project Proposal (DPP) is underway, and these bridges have been included in the proposal. Repair work can begin once the project is approved. InshaAllah, work on these bridges will begin very soon," he said.

Locals, however, said repairing the old structure will not provide a permanent solution.

They urged the authorities to remove the hazardous bridge and construct a new and durable one before a major accident occurs.