Rangamati’s iconic tourist bridge submerges again

RANGAMATI, Sept 13: The tourist suspension bridge in Rangamati has been submerged again as the water level of Kaptai Lake rose due to continuous rain and hill runoff.

About four inches of water rose over the bridge deck on Friday afternoon. To avoid any risk, the authorities have suspended visitors’ access to the bridge indefinitely.

According to Tourism Corporation sources, water from the Chengi, Maini and Kachalong rivers, as well as the Karnaphuli River flowing from India’s Mizoram, is entering Kaptai Lake. The lake’s water level has been rising for several days due to continuous rainfall and runoff from the hills. As the flow of water from upstream continued, the bridge deck went underwater on Friday afternoon.

Alok Bikash Chakma, Manager of Rangamati Tourism Corporation, said about four inches of water rose over the bridge deck on Friday afternoon due to the rising lake level.

“Access to the bridge has been suspended indefinitely with the approval of the higher authorities to avoid any risk,” he said. “The bridge will be reopened for visitors once the water level recedes.”

Meanwhile, 16 spillway gates of the Kaptai Dam were reopened again within five days as the water level of Kaptai Lake continued to rise.

This was the second time this year that the dam gates were opened. The gates were opened six inches each on Friday morning to release water after the lake’s water level reached 105.51 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

The gates had been closed on September 6.