Road collapse isolates 11 villages in Khagrachari
Photo: Agamir Somoy
A 30-foot section of a rural road in Panchari, Khagrachari, was destroyed by mountain floods, severing the transportation link for residents of 11 villages.
The collapse occurred on the road connecting Nalkata Bridge to Balipara, at ward number 5 of the Latiban Union in Panchari Upazila. On 8 July, mountain floods caused around 30 feet of the road, located about 70-80 meters from the Nalkata Bridge, to collapse into the adjacent Shuknachari canal.
Since then, all types of vehicular movement on this route have ceased, forcing residents o travel on foot.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Upazila Engineer, District LGED engineers, and a team from Dhaka have inspected the site. LGED Khagrachari Executive Engineer Md Anwar Rahman said, “Work is underway for a permanent solution and it will be started soon.”
Locals added that about one kilometer of the road is paved, while macadam has been laid on another three kilometers for future paving. Around five kilometers are brick-laid, and the remaining portion is unpaved.
The disruption significantly affects the transport of agricultural and forest products to markets. Notun Moni Chakma of Baura Para said, “Seasonal fruits, bananas, and vegetables produced in this area could easily be taken to the market through this road. Now that the road is broken, it is costing extra to take these products to the market.”
The collapse has also created hardships for those traveling to three government primary schools, one private primary school, and a community clinic. Rinku Chakma of Latiban Union, who recently gave birth, was seen crossing the broken area in the blistering sun with her infant while holding an umbrella.
She added, “It is very difficult to go to the doctor. If the road were open, I could have gone from home to Panchari Sadar by three-wheeler.”
Miyodhon Chakma from Lalit Mohan Para said, “Previously, the Shuknachari stream was very small. After the erosion, it has turned into a large canal. During the monsoon, the stream takes a terrible form due to the mountain slope. Then everything is devastated by the current of water. Again, there is no water in this stream during the dry season.”
Binoy Bikash Chakma, a member of Latiban Union’s Ward 5, added, “To prevent erosion, a four-and-a-half-foot high wall with a beam was constructed in 2024. But a part of the road along with the wall sank into the canal due to the strong mountain slope. 28 of my teak trees were also washed away in that erosion.”
