By Daniel D.
The inhabitants of Ndongo, a neighborhood in Buea, find themselves cut off from the rest of the city following the collapse of a vital bridge.
The incident, which occurred on the morning of Saturday, February 17, has ignited fury among residents, who blame reckless driving and poor-quality infrastructure for the catastrophic collapse.
The bridge, connecting Ndongo to Checkpoint in Buea, crumbled under the weight of a heavy-duty truck transporting sand into the neighborhood.
Residents say the bridge was already in a dilapidated state, and heavy-duty vehicles were restricted from using it.
However, the driver of the sand-laden truck, despite warnings, attempted to cross the bridge, resulting in its collapse.
The truck had succeeded in passing, but its back tyres were hooked.
Witnesses assert that the same truck had previously caused cracks on the bridge during a prior passage.
Now, the people of Ndongo face the daunting task of crossing the river on foot, carrying items on their heads and hands to navigate the impassable route.
The collapse of the bridge not only severed vital connectivity for Ndongo residents but also destroyed water supply pipes, exacerbating the challenges faced by the community.
Stranded vehicles lined the driveway to Ndongo after the collapse, adding to the chaos caused by the infrastructure failure.
At the time of this report, the police had been to the scene to assess the extent of the damage.
The collapse raised concerns of poor maintenance of road infrastructures, not only in Buea but across the country.
Residents express frustration, emphasizing that a properly constructed bridge would not have succumbed to such a sudden collapse.
Prior to this incident, Ndongo residents had erected a rain gate to regulate access to the bridge.
However, influential individuals who had ongoing construction projects in the area reportedly ignored the gate, contributing to the structural strain that ultimately led to the collapse.
Now, residents lament the removal of the rain gate, asserting that its presence could have prevented the passage of the sand truck.
Residents now look to the Buea Council to swing into action to rebuild the bridge.
However, some are worried that the reconstruction might delay because the Council has already planned its budget for 2024 and the Ndongo bridge might only be included in the 2025 budget.
