Sirajganj, July 11 (bdnews24.com) —The Jamuna bridge, along with a huge stretch of Sirajganj town's flood barrier, is under threat from the heavily rain-swollen river, warned Md Abul Kalam Azad, director general of the Bangladesh Water Development Board, on Saturday.
Visiting the site of an already breached section of Sirajganj's flood protection embankment. He said damage to the structure could amount to Tk 332 crore.
"The current and characteristics of the Jamuna river are quite unpredictable. A 'hundred-year guaranteed' embankment has been breached at one of its strongest points," said Azad.
A 600-foot long section of the embankment's 'strong point' zone at Shashan Goila Ghat area was breached by Jamuna waters on Friday.
"The guide embankment of the Jamuna Bridge is also under threat. The west bank of the bridge is at great risk."
"The bridge will be out of action if the guide embankment is breached," he said.
Aminul Islam, WDB executive engineer for the district, said a 2.5 km long permanent embankment between Ranigram of Sirajganj Sadar Upazila to Moti Shaheber Ghat was built after the construction of Jamuna Bridge.
But another 7.5 km from Moti Shaheber Ghat to the bridge's west bank guide embankment was left unprotected. This part now at risk of erosion threatens to undermine the bridge's guide embankment.
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