SIRAJGANJ: Country’s east-west road communications crossing over Bangabandhu Bridge across the Jamuna halted for two hours as lightning struck down its computerized traffic-operation systems at both ends on Tuesday morning, officials said.

They said the close-circuit cameras and computers on both sides of the bridge went phut under the impact of thunderclaps, as an inclement weather has been persisting across the country for the last few days.

The close-circuit cameras and computers at the bridge toll plazas shut down as the lightning caused short circuit, said warrant officer of army Shahjahan Ali, Supervisor of the Bangabandhu Bridge Special Organization (BBSO).   

“The situation became normal for taking initiative to collect toll manually,” he said.

As a result of the system breakdown, hundreds of vehicles got stranded in queues on both sides of the bridge for two hours since around 5:00am.

Later, the duty officer of BBSO Major Jakir Hossain ordered colleting toll manually.

Shahjahan said the toll-collecting process will be running manually until the close-circuit cameras and computers are mended.

BDST: 1539Hrs. June 29, 2010
Correspondent/TSA/MMA/MUA