, May 19 -- Nearly 20,000 residents of around 30 villages in Mubachhari union of Khagrachari's Mahalchhari upazila have been risking their lives while crossing a severely damaged culvert that became unusable nearly 12 years ago.

Despite being declared unfit for use over a decade ago, the culvert continues to serve as a vital link between the union and the upazila headquarters, said locals.

With no alternative, local residents have been making makeshift repairs using bamboo and wood to keep it functional.

These temporary fixes have made the culvert extremely unsafe, particularly ahead of the monsoon season.

Locals have urged authorities to reconstruct the culvert before the upcoming monsoon, warning that a failure to act could sever co...