“The bridge’s ropes and the metal deck sunk in the water. We are trying to salvage them with divers,” said U Saw Hla Aye, an elder from Tha Yet Chaung Village.

He said, “This bridge is very essential for this area. Actually, it shouldn’t be a suspension bridge. It should have been a concrete bridge. You can travel from Laung Chaung to Ah Ngu Maw, Zay Di Pyin and Buthidaung in the north using this bridge. It should be a concrete bridge so that motorcycles and vehicles can pass through,” he added.

U Tet Toe, a 78-year-old man from Tha Yet Chaung Village, said that the bridge damage is effecting students’ attendance at the high school in Laung Chaung.

“Some of the parents will have to send their children to Laung Chaung Village via ferryboats. Parents who can’t afford to send their children [to the village] won’t be able to send their children to school. Students won’t be able to go to school on rainy and windy days. So their education will become affected and the number of students may be reduced,” he told Narinjara News.

Around 200 students from Tha Yet Chaung, Tha Yet Pyin, Paung Zar, Nay Pu Khan, Kyun Chaung and Kaung Ri Chaung villages typically use the suspension bridge to get to and from the middle and high school in Laung Chaung every day.

The suspension bridge was opened in April 2013.

Villagers are asking for donations in case they have to fully rebuild the bridge at an expected cost of K30 million.

Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by Laignee Barron