Reconstruction of bridge needed

Letter March 08, 2019
Proper steps need to be taken by the Balochistan government to reconstruct the Rodbun Bridge

MAND, KECH: Rodbun is a large town in Kech district. It is 80km from Turbat, situated near the Pak-Iran border. Residents of Rodbun are deprived of basic facilities such as roads and infrastructure.

Moreover, the Neheng Bridge, built over one of the biggest rivers in Balochistan in 1990, collapsed in 2007 following heavy floods, and is yet to be repaired.

The road is totally broken despite being the main artery along the Pak-Iran border, leading to numerous accidents. A few years ago, construction started on the Rodbun Bridge which is yet to be completed.

Residents have to face several problems to reach Turbat, especially in an emergency. On March 2, heavy floods from the Iranian side resulted in many people getting stuck. One such case was that of a pregnant woman on her way to hospital after she felt labour pain.

The closest hospital is in Turbat. Fortunately she and the baby survived. The floods have, however, destroyed roads.  The Mand road has been blocked for the past four days due to floods, without any alternative route available.

A few individuals were able to bring in machinery and fix the road to a limited extent to resume mobility, however proper steps need to be taken by the Balochistan government to reconstruct the Rodbun Bridge as soon as possible.

Mairaj Mureed

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8th, 2019.

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