A bridge connecting the Cooch Behar town with surrounding areas collapsed when a dump truck was crossing the structure over the Dharala stream on Friday morning.

The driver and assistant in truck managed to jump out before the vehicle fell into the waters. The 70m-long bridge had been built at Chandamari in Cooch Behar 1 block around 25 years ago.

Officials said the bridge had become weak over the years, while local people said the authorities should have stopped the plying of heavy vehicles over the structure.

The dump truck that was loaded with boulders was crossing the bridge when the concrete plank cracked. Soon, the bridge broke and fell into the stream.

Hundreds of residents gathered along the banks of the stream after the collapse. They said trucks laden with construction materials would often pass through the bridge.

Functionaries of Cooch Behar 1 panchayat samiti and subdivisional officer Sanjay Paul visited the spot. “We are happy that there was no casualty. But around 8,000 people who used the bridge to go to Cooch Behar town and other areas of the district will face inconveniences,” said Azizul Haque, the sahakari sabhapati of the panchayat samiti.

He said residents of areas like Chandamari, Putimari-Fuleswari and Kyatarhat would travel through the bridge. “Now, they will have to take turnaround routes to reach Cooch Behar. From some places, one has to travel 10 or 15 kilometres extra to reach the town,” said Haque. “We hope that the authorities will take necessary initiatives.”