Twelve bamboo bridges over the Kangsabati river for a stretch of 15km in East Midnapore have been washed away because of rising water level and discharge of water from a barrage at Mukutmanipur in Bankura.

Around 50,000 residents of at least 100 villages on one side of the river now can’t access Panskura and Serampore on the other side following the destruction of the bridges last week.

A wooden bridge connecting East Midnapore and West Midnapore over the Keleghai was also washed away last week. The bridge was at Sabang in West Midnapore. All political parties have appealed to the state government to build a new concrete bridge.

Both the Kangsabati and the Keleghai had risen because of heavy rainfall triggered by a low pressure in Bay of Bengal.

The villages cut off from the Panskura and Serampore towns include Prajabar, Saraighat, Raisahar, Paobanki, Domghat, Maguri, Uttarsai and Konchoki.

Sources said East Midnapore district administration officials had provided canoes to the affected people to cross the Kangsabati while the bridges were being repaired, but the residents said still, it would take long time for commute.

“We have to either wait for boats now or take 10-15km long detour on foot,” said one villager, referring to three concrete bridges near Serampore, Panskura and Harinarayan Chowk.

“Besides, we have to trek through a lot of muck because our side of the river is not very developed,” he added.

The district officials said other than the boats, no viable option remained for the affected villagers till the repairs got over.

“The water level of the Kangsabati is higher than usual because of the weather and subsequent release of 10,000cusec water from the Kangsabati barrage last week. The bamboo structures could not withstand the force of the current. We are working to restore the bridges at the earliest,” said irrigation department executive engineer Anirban Bhattacharya.

Residents of Sabang rued the loss of the old wooden bridge which acted as a link to Bhagabanpur and Moyna.

“Over 10,000 persons are directly or indirectly affected. So, we are pleading chief minister Mamata Banerjee for a concrete bridge here,” said MLA Gita Bhunia.

“Officials have already conducted a survey. We hope the bridge will be announced soon,” said Trinamul Rajya Sabha member Manas Bhunia.