Traffic on the Tangail–Bhuapur–Tarakandi regional road remained suspended for the sixth consecutive day yesterday as repair work on a section washed away by erosion from the Jamuna River continued, causing widespread disruption and raising fears of further collapse.
The erosion began suddenly last Sunday at Sakharia village in Gopalpur upazila, where strong currents from the Jamuna River swept away an initial 25-metre stretch of the road. The damaged section has since widened to about 80 metres.
The road closure has halted the movement of passenger buses, freight vehicles and ambulances, forcing commuters and transport operators to use longer alternative routes. The detours have increased travel time, transportation costs and hardship for residents.
People living near the affected area have begun moving household belongings and livestock to safer locations amid concerns that further erosion could breach the remaining road and allow river water to inundate nearby settlements.
Officials from the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) are carrying out emergency protection work by dumping geo bags and tube bags along the eroding riverbank in an effort to stabilise the area.
Locals said they remain anxious despite the ongoing work, warning that failure to contain the erosion quickly could lead to extensive damage to homes, agricultural land and critical infrastructure.
"We are living in constant fear," said local resident Nazrul Islam. "If the road collapses completely, vast areas of Gopalpur, Bhuapur and the greater Mymensingh region could be affected."
Another resident, Md Hayrat, said villagers have been unable to sleep peacefully due to fears that the erosion could destroy their homes and farmland.
A resident named Anowara said her family had already moved their cattle to safer ground and feared they would have nowhere to go if the road gave way completely.
BWDB Executive Engineer Main Uddin attributed the erosion to heavy rainfall, strong upstream flows and changes in the Jamuna's channel caused by the formation of sandbars, which redirected the river's current towards the road.
"The affected section remains vulnerable. Geo bag dumping operations are continuing and will remain in place until the situation is brought under control," he said.
Local lawmaker Abdus Salam Pintu said emergency erosion-control measures were launched immediately after the collapse and that the government, BWDB and local residents were working together to prevent further damage.
The state minister for fisheries and livestock said more than 25,000 geo bags, along with large pipe bags, had already been deployed to reinforce the riverbank. He added that the government was also pursuing plans for a permanent embankment and hoped the emergency repair work would be completed soon.
