Nesarabad (Pirojpur) Correspondent

Several parts of the important road under the LGED from Rajabari to Zilbari in Baldia Union of Nesarabad Upazila of Pirojpur have been submerged in the canal due to continuous heavy rains for several days.

This has stopped the movement of all types of light vehicles including auto-rickshaws and vans. Despite the erosion that has been going on for a long time, thousands of people from at least five villages have been suffering due to the lack of effective initiatives for permanent repairs.

Students, patients, elderly and working people are the most affected. It has become practically difficult for residents of several nearby villages including Binna, Rajabari, Zilbari, Uribunia, Lebubari to travel to the upazila headquarters. In addition, this road is the only means of communication between the neighboring upazila Nazirpur and Nesarabad upazila.

On Saturday (July 25), it was seen that major landslides have occurred at various places along the nearly two-kilometer road from the front of Mohiuddin Chairman's house in Rajabari to Binna Bazar and Zilbari. A significant part of the road had already disappeared due to long-standing channel erosion. Recent incessant rains have also created deep holes in the remaining part, which has now become a death trap.

Currently, the road is completely closed to traffic. Locals have made arrangements for motorcycle traffic by temporarily installing wooden planks and small bridges on the broken sections.

Locals claim that hundreds of students from several government primary schools, secondary schools and madrasas commute daily on this road. In addition, people from at least three villages in the neighboring Nazirpur upazila also depend on this road to reach the upazila headquarters and Inderhat-Miyarhat markets. Due to the poor condition of the road, students are finding it difficult to travel. There is also an extreme crisis in transporting patients in case of emergency.

Locals complain that despite the erosion that has been going on for a long time, no effective initiative has been taken by the LGED for permanent repairs. As a result, the suffering increases every monsoon. If urgent measures are not taken, there is a danger that the remaining part of the road will also disappear into the canal.

Md. Saiful Islam, general secretary of the Baldia Volunteer Organization and a local resident, said, "People from seven villages of Baldia Union and three villages of the neighboring Nazirpur Upazila travel through this road every day.

Baldia Union Parishad Chairman Md. Saidur Rahman said, "The road was already risky. Currently, the condition of the section from Rajabari to Binna is very bad. During the monsoon, various parts of the road have disappeared into the canal. Autorickshaw movement is completely stopped. Even though a tender was issued for renovation once, it was not implemented. It is urgent to repair the road quickly."

The affected locals have sought the immediate intervention of the concerned authorities to urgently repair the road and take effective measures to permanently prevent the canal from collapsing.