Residents of five to six villages under Paikpara union in Faridganj upazila have been suffering for years due to the hazardous condition of a locally-built wooden bridge, their lone means of communication. The wooden bridge, connecting East Bhawal village and neighboring areas under Ward No. 7 of Paikpara union, has been in a dilapidated state for long. Frequent accidents on the bridge have left  people who use it daily frustrated and fearful. Although local people submitted a formal request to the Upazila Project Implementation Office two years ago no progress has been made toward constructing a concrete bridge or culvert to replace it. The unsafe bridge turned very risky after heavy rains earlier this year caused waterlogging and the collapse of its supporting structures. During a recent visit, this correspondent observed people crossing the rickety bridge at great personal risk. Rickshaws, vans, and motorcycles often meet with accidents while crossing the unstable structure. Syed Ahmed Talukdar, a resident of East Bhawal village, said, “There was a bamboo bridge here five years ago, which we replaced with this wooden bridge using community funds. However, heavy rainfall recently damaged both sides, making it vulnerable.” Read: Bailey bridge collapse snaps road link in Barishal Dulal Talukdar, another resident, said, “We replaced the bamboo bridge to improve connectivity but now this wooden bridge has become unsafe. Vehicles frequently fall into the water, and students face immense difficulties. The bridge also connects villagers to a mosque and Eidgah, making it an essential link for five villages.” Both men stressed the urgent need for a concrete bridge, noting that repeated pleas to local representatives have so far gone unanswered. Md Shamim, a Union Parishad member, said  he submitted an application to the Upazila Project Implementation Office two years ago for the construction of a small bridge. “The PIO and other officials inspected the site, but no allocation has been made yet. I was told that construction will begin once funds are available,” he said. Administrative Officer Golam Mostafa Shamim, who joined the union eight months ago, said he was unaware of the bridge’s current state but promised to investigate. Read more: Under-construction bridge collapses in Patuakhali Faridganj Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Milton Dastidar said, “I visited the site following a written request from locals. Necessary documents have been sent to the ministry for approval. The demand for a new bridge is valid, and I’m optimistic that it will be addressed soon.”

Police in western India arrested nine people on Monday as they investigated the collapse of a newly repaired 143-year-old suspension bridge in one of the country's worst accidents in years, officials told AP. At least 141 people, mostly women and children, died after the colonial-era cable bridge over a river collapsed in the western Indian state of Gujarat on Sunday evening. The tragedy occurred in Morbi district of Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, around 6.45pm. "The death toll has risen to 141, with the recovery of several bodies overnight. Over 180 others have been rescued and many of them hospitalised with serious injuries," a police officer told the media on Monday. Over 500 people had thronged the bridge to perform religious rituals when it collapsed. The 140-year-old bridge was repaired and reopened to the public on October 26. Read more: Bridge that collapsed in India reopened sans 'fitness certificate'

Road communication between Sadar upazila and other parts of Barisal has remained suspended since Wednesday morning, following the collapse of a Bailey bridge on Banaripara Road in Babuganj upazila. The Bailey bridge collapsed when a Barishal-bound stone-laden truck from Pirojpur was crossing it in the small hours of Wednesday, officials said. Read:A bridge that’s going to connect the dreams of Rangamati islanders to reality However, repair work is already underway and the local police and residents are trying to restore the road link, said Kamlesh Chandra Haldar, officer-in-charge of Airport Police Station.

Road communication between Faridpur and Maksudpur has remained suspended since Saturday morning, following the collapse of a Bailey bridge over the Kumar River in Nagarkanda upazila of the district.

At least three persons were killed when a truck fell into a river on Tuesday, following the collapse of a Bailey bridge in Rangamati district, police said.

Seven people were confirmed dead and 14 others seriously injured on Sunday after a bridge collapsed in Massok, a locality in Cameroon's Littoral region, according to local authorities.

A wooden bridge over the Bhadra River, the lone means to cross the river, collapsed recently within a week of construction, causing extreme  sufferings to 10,000 residents of Shovona and Kharnia unions in Dumuria upazila.

Taipei, Oct 2 (AP/UNB) — Searchers have recovered four bodies and are looking for two people missing from three fishing boats that were struck when a bridge collapsed in Taiwan.