The Kobore bridge which connects the Bawku West district to the Bawku municipality has been submerged in water making it difficult for commuters to cross over to either side.
The Spillage of the Bagre and kopienga dam in the Burkina Faso coupled with the torrential rains in the Upper east region has caused the white voter to over fill it’s banks and has consumed the Kobore Bridge.
The water level has risen above the banks of the river and filled the surroundings with huge volumes of rain water including the only bridge that connects the Bawku West to other districts to the east and our neighboring countries, Burkina Faso and Niger.
Transport operators and commuters were left stranded on Monday morning 7th September,2020, when they got to the bridge. Cars could not cross to either side and those who did that ,did that at their own peril.
Travelers from Bolga could not cross to Bwaku, Travers from Bawku could not also cross over to Bolga.
Long queues of passenger and goods vehicles could been seen from a long distance along the road leading to the bridge.
Speaking to Simon Agana on the Word Community Watch Show on Word Fm in Zuarungu, the regional NADMO Coordinator, Mr. Jerry Asamani said “ the bridge has been submerged with the water from Bagri dam and Kupienga dam. The bridge is shaken and might be washed away if the rains continues for the next few days.”
Mr. Jerry said those living around the bridge have moved to high lands but most buildings have been submerged and others filled with water.
” We have asked that all those living in low lands should move up land because the water level is on the rise and the Burkinabe’s have opened all the valve to to the Bagre dam because the rains there are even heavier than ours and their dams are full.”
“We still appeal to all who have refused to move to high lands to do so for the sake of their own lives”
Mr. Jerry feared the worst will happen which will include the whole community around the bridge been washed away if the bridges collapses.
All transport operators have been asked to halt operations till the water level subside.
Travelers from the region and outside the region who intend visiting Bawku have been advised to suspend that decision for now until the highway department gives the order for passage through the Kobori Bridge.
Meanwhile a team from Nadmo and other security agencies have been stationed meters from the bridge to return cars coming from Bolga or Bawku..