Students to miss class due to collapsed bridge

By DOROTHY MARK
MORE than 700 students attending the Brahman Catholic Secondary School in Bundi, Madang will not be able to start classes because the collapsed Baiyer bridge is yet to be repaired.
Madang education director Moses Sariki said the provincial education board and the provincial government would discuss options for students when term one begins.
School director Max David said the collapsed bridge had caused problems for people travelling to Bundi.
He said students too would be affected if they were unable to reach the school.
Usino-Bundi district administrator Steven Biko said heavy rain on Sunday night affected the recently built bridge connecting Usino to Bundi.
The bridge “apartment” on the Bundi side was damaged by the flood.
He said the bridge also linked people from Bundi and Simbus travelling from Snowpass to Madang.
“This bridge is the only link for more than 20,000 people from Bundi and Simbus travelling from Snowpass to Bundi and to Madang,” Biko said.
He said a report would be sent to provincial authorities.
“I am preparing a report to the provincial administration and provincial government to address the issue while we at the district stand by on where we could come in to solve the issue.”
He said the Aumia Bridge in Koroba on the Usino-Madang highway was also affected by the flood. “The once straight bridge is now crooked,” Biko said.
National Works Madang branch manager Andrew Kendaura said they had sent a contractor to work on the damaged road section but the landowners had demanded money before the work could begin.
Kendaura said Biko would discuss the matter with the people.
Biko said the highway was for public use and landowners had no right to interfere.