Road communication between Dhaka and Barisal has been suspended for last two days after a Bailey bridge at Rajoir upazila of Madaripur on Dhaka-Barisal Highway partially collapsed.
A transom beam of the bridge collapsed after four goods laden trucks weighing 45 tonnes crossed it around 6am on Thursday, said locals and sources at the Madaripur Roads and Highways Department (RHD).
Hearing the news, the Madaripur RHD authorities halted vehicular movement on the bridge and started repair work from Friday morning.
However, more than half of the repair work was yet to be completed.
More than 500 vehicles including goods laden trucks have been stranded creating around 10km long tailbacks on both sides of the highway.
The tailbacks are causing untold sufferings to the passengers and Dhaka-bound goods laden vehicles particularly those carrying perishable items.
Assistant Engineer of Madaripur Roads and Highway Department Tanimul Haque said the heavy equipment needed for repairing the bridge were not available in Madaripur. The authority was trying to contact in Barisal, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, and Faridpur in this regard, he said.