A steel bridge collapsed after a 42-wheeler carrying a transformer got on it on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Trishal upazila.
A case has been filed in this regard claiming a loss of Tk30 crore of the government on Thursday.
Sub-Assistant Engineer of Bhaluka Roads and Highways Department Md Abdul Halim filed a case at Trishal police station in the afternoon.
Trishal police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Main Uddin confirmed the matter.
Citing the case documents, he said, around 5:30pm on Wednesday, a 42-wheeler truck carrying a transformer was going towards Mymensingh on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. As soon as the lorry climbed over the steel bridge in Cheler Ghat area of Trishal, it collapsed and fell down.
At the same time a private car fell, injuring three out of five people inside the car, the case added.
It was also mentioned in that case, according to the law, the movement of vehicles weighing up to 40 tons on the highway is allowed. However, the lorry driver crossed the bridge with a 120-ton transformer without following any road transport law and without taking any permission from the road department.
OC Main Uddin also said that an operation is underway to find the accused. The transformer is from Energypac company. It was going to the city's Kewatkhali power grid.
Shaukat Ali, additional chief engineer of Mymensingh Roads and Highways Department said: “A big crane will be needed to move the transformer and the truck from there. It may take weeks. After removing it, we will try to restore normal traffic by building a bailey bridge.”
“We will request for a new bridge here. Senior officials have already looked into the matter. Hope they give a decision soon,” he added.
None of the Energypack officials agreed to speak on the matter.
