Villagers call for repair of bridge knocked out by cyclone in rural Rathedaung 

By Admin 05 Sep 2023

DMG Newsroom
5 September 2023, Rathedaung

Locals from more than 10 villages in Rathedaung Township, Arakan State, are facing transportation difficulties because a rural bridge that local people depend on has not yet been repaired.

The Zedipyin-Mawhtet Bridge is an iron-plate suspension bridge that was destroyed by Cyclone Mocha, which hit Arakan State on May 14. At present, locals have to travel by boat to get to the other side of the creek that the bridge previously spanned.

“If locals are sick at night, it is very difficult to go to the other side of the creek by boat. Previously, if the locals were sick, they could go anytime without difficulty,” said Daw Oo Sein Than, a local woman from Mawhtet Village.

The bridge is important for the social, health and educational aspects of residents’ lives across more than 10 villages including Cedipyin, Mawhtet and Theintaung.

“On days with heavy rain, the children are not allowed to go to school. The ferryboat operator does not dare to send the students to school. If it’s a rainy day, children don’t have to go to school,” said Daw Lone Ma Chay, the mother of a student from Mawhtet Village.

More than 200 feet long, the bridge was built about eight years ago.

A plan to repair the bridge has been submitted to the Arakan State military council, but nothing has been done yet. Locals are planning to repair the bridge on a self-reliant basis, but they face financial hurdles, according to their bridge repair committee.

“We are currently trying to straighten the pillars of the bridge, which were bent by the storm. After the pillars of the bridge are reinforced, if there are associations that will support it, the bridge repair will begin,” said U Phyu Daung, a local man from Cedipyin Village.

DMG phoned U Hla Thein, spokesperson for the Arakan State military council, to find out what the administration intends to do about the damaged bridge, but he could not be reached.

Residents are facing transportation difficulties as many roads and bridges in the Arakan State townships of Rathedaung, Kyauktaw and Myebon that were damaged by the storm have yet to be repaired.