Rangamati's tension bridge submerged, crossing banned

Rangamati town's popular tourist attraction, the tension bridge over Kaptai Lake, has been submerged due to incessant rainfall and hill torrents. To avoid risks, authorities have imposed an indefinite ban on crossing the bridge starting from Saturday morning.

The Bangladesh Tourism Corporation reported that water from the Chengi, Maini, and Kachalong rivers, as well as the Karnaphuli River originating from India's Mizoram state, has flowed into Kaptai Lake. Continuous rain and hill torrents have been raising the lake's water level for several days. On Friday night, the water level touched the bridge deck. As upstream water continued to flow in, water rose to about four inches above the bridge deck by Saturday morning.

The Kaptai Karnaphuli Hydropower Station authorities said that until Saturday afternoon, the water level in Kaptai Lake was 105.64 feet MSL (Mean Sea Level). The lake's maximum holding capacity is 109 feet MSL. Currently, five units of the power station are operational, generating 222 megawatts of electricity. The station's maximum generation capacity is 242 megawatts.

Alok Bikash Chakma, Manager of Rangamati Tourism Corporation, told Agami Samay that due to the rising lake water, water had risen four inches above the hanging bridge on Saturday morning. To avoid risks, with permission from higher authorities, crossing the bridge has been banned indefinitely. The bridge will be reopened for visitors once the water recedes.