The New Nation - Internet Edition

Patuakhali Correspondent

At least three people died and more than 200 were injured in a bridge collapse at Kalapara, about 70km south of Patuakhali district headquarter, when some 400 cyclone victims were stampeding for relief yesterday afternoon.

Khalilur Rahman Howlader, 40, a rickshawpuller and son of Abdul Hamid Howlader of village Gandhapara under Chakmaiya union, died on the spot, while three others succumbed to their injuries later. They were identified as Delwar Hossain, 30, Sumon, 13, and Zakir Hossain, 35.

The concrete-made cyclone-battered bridge on Nishanbaria Canal in Chakmaiya union under Kalapara upazila suddenly collapsed at about 1:15pm under the weight of hundreds of hungry cyclone victims who thronged there for relief goods, witnesses said.

Police said that about 400 cyclone survivors thronged the bridge for arrival of relief. After distribution of relief among 50 people the overloaded bridge collapsed. Almost dead now the canal has around neck-deep water.

Officials of ScanCement, a foreign cement manufacturing company, was distributing relief goods including rice at one end of the bridge when the accident took place.

Ranjit Kumar, upazila nirbahi officer of Kalapara, said they found only one body. The UNO said the ScanCement arranged relief distribution work without taking permission from the local administration.

Dozens of injured people were admitted to Kalapara Health Complex while many others were given first aid.

Of the injured, 30 were rushed to Barisal Medical College Hospital in

critical condition.

Rescuers removed fallen concrete slabs to search for people feared crushed underneath, while frantic villagers gathered around the site on the river bank.

Many came from remote areas hoping for food handouts from the government and non-governmental organisations.

"We have walked for several kilometres to reach this river bank to get some food because relief operators just distribute to the people on the banks and roadside," said Marzina Begum, who lost her son and husband in the storm. "They don't think there are many survivors in the remote areas," she said.

Teams of army, navy, police and Fire Brigade were still searching the

three missing people.

Relief distributors of ScanCement, manufactured by Heidelberg Cement Bangladesh Ltd fled the scene after the accident. Officials said they did not inform the local administration about the relief operation.