Life came to a standstill in North Waziristan on Sunday after unknown assailants blew up yet another vital connecting bridge in the Mir Ali tehsil, cutting off entire communities from markets, hospitals and agricultural lands, as police and security forces stepped up targeted operations against terror elements elsewhere in the province.

According to police, the bridge in Khushhali village of Makinah was destroyed late at night using explosive material, completely severing land access to nearby settlements.

Security forces immediately cordoned off the area and launched investigations, while the blast left residents grappling with severe hardships.

Meanwhile, locals complained that schoolchildren, patients, the elderly and women were among the worst affected, with no alternative routes available for ambulances or emergency services. Agricultural activity and daily commerce have also been badly disrupted.

Tribal elder Malik Deen Sardar expressed anguish over the destruction. “This bridge was the lifeline of our lives. Now, taking patients to the hospital has become a serious challenge. How long will we continue to pay the price for such actions?”

Social activist Jalal Khan echoed similar concerns. “We had pinned our hopes on peace, but repeated destruction of bridges shows that the suffering of ordinary people does not matter to anyone.”

He added that one force was leaving behind innocent bodies, while another was making life unbearable by destroying infrastructure, leaving civilians trapped in between.

Residents strongly condemned the attack and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible, urgent reconstruction of the bridge, and improved permanent security arrangements to prevent such incidents.

Police said evidence from the site had been collected and the nature of the explosives was being determined.