No fewer than 17 federal bridges in Plateau State have collapsed thereby cutting the state from other parts of the country, while many houses have been washed away as a result of torrential rain that lasted for two days.

Saturday Tribune’s findings revealed that the torrential rain, which started last week Saturday and lasted till late Sunday night wrecked so much havoc that some of the rural people in the southern part of the state comprising, Mikang, Langtang North, Wase, Mikang had to climb available hills and trees as the heavy rain swept through the area.

Most of the farmlands were also left devastated and washed away such that most of the farmers could hardly recognise their farm lands while animals like cows, goats sheep among others were also washed away.

The only federal bridge linking Shendam Local Government in the southern part of the state with the neighbouring Nasarawa, Taraba States and Plateau State capital caved in and cut off the people while those willing to travel out of the state resorted to footpaths by motorcycles and canoes.

The federal and state bridges affected across the state are, Dankang bridge,  Lomak bridge, Ryak culvert, lyangji bridge on lang tang Wase, lyangji 2 Bailey bridge  on Langtang Wase Road, Bailey bridge on Langtang Wase road, bridge 1 on Lang- tang Lalin  bridge 2 on Langtang Lalin.

Others are bridge 3 on Langtang Lalin, 10Long vel bridge, Total bridge in Shendam, the state roads affected are Gazum, Tilam, off kwampe, bridge1on Lang tang-Zamko road, Bridge 2 on Lang tang-Zamko road and  Kalong.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after inspecting the affected areas, Governor  Jonah Jang  solicited the assistance of the Federal Government and well-meaning individuals as well as the International Community to come to the aid of the victims of the flood in the state, adding that  most of the bridges affected were on federal roads  and beyond what the state can shoulder.

Jang insisted that serious precautionary measures have to be put in place to avoid future occurrence and appealed to the affected communities, families and individuals to observe precautionary measures given by experts to prevent further calamity.