Flood Sweeps Away Kuru Bridge in Taraba State

A bridge linking Taraba State to the Southern parts of the country has been cut off by a high-velocity flood in the Gassol Local Government Area of the state, the flood also destroyed many farms along the riverbank.

The Kuru Bridge, along Mutum-Biyu -Tella Highway in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State has bowed to flood, after hours of heavy downpour, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded on Saturday.

Road users were helped by community efforts, with the construction of a makeshift bridge.

Between 50 to 200 Naira are paid to youths in the community by commuters for accessing the makeshift bridge.

The bridge which has been in existence for over forty years is strategic for the transportation of agricultural commodities from Taraba State to Southern Nigeria.

Residents blamed the incident on poor maintenance of a crack on the bridge.

But the Federal Road Maintenance Agency in the State said it took preemptive measures, to avoid the collapse of the bridge, and efforts are already being made to provide an alternative.

The flood responsible for the collapse of the Kuturu Bridge is coming on the heels of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency’s prediction of flooding in Taraba State, which two weeks ago, has already affected some parts of Jalingo.