A bailey bridge collapsed in the Kumar River here due to heavy pressure of a stone laden truck early yesterday.
Police arrested truck driver Nantu Rahman,25, of Allar Darga village under Doulatpur upazila in Kusthia but the helper managed to flee by swimming ashore. The driver's leg was locked in the seat, police said.
Police sources said that at about 5:00 am a truck coming from Rangpur was crossing the bridge when its western part totally collapsed into the river along with the truck.
The driver told this correspondent that he was coming from Rangpur with 36 tonnes of stones in truck for delivery to Faridpur railway authorities. He tried wrongfully to enter the town to make a short cut way by avoiding Alimuzzaman bridge.
The bailey bridge connects Hazi Shariatullah Bazaar with Titumir Bazaar in the town.
Hazi Shariatullah Bazaar secretary Nur Islam Molla said the bridge was too old for crossing. 'We were demanding its repair for a long time, but in vain', he said.
Contacted, SI Nikhil Odhikari, also invetigation officer (IO) of Kotwali police station said, the bailey bridge collapsed as the truck driver was crossing it carelessly.
Source : The Daily Star
