Imphal, October 18 2009: The chief of the Modi village located close to the yesterday's vehicle mishap that claimed life of five people, KT Behring today blamed the government for not timely repairing the more than 40 year old bridge that collapse when the ill-fated Shaktiman crossed.

Meanwhile, IGAR (S) in a statement today claimed that troops of 42 Assam Rifles of 26 Sector under HQ IGAR(South) provided assistance to the victims of the accident.

The dead bodies of the five persons died in the mishap occurred yesterday evening at about 5.30 pm have been taken for performing last rites after postmortem at RIMS morgue today.

Mention may be made that five people, occupants of a Shaktiman truck died when the vehicle fell down into the river with the collapse of the bridge across the river running near the Modi village of Chandel district yesterday evening.

Around 14 other occupants of the truck sustained injuries.

Chief of the Modi village who turned up at RIMS morgue today said while observing that the vehicle met with the tragedy due to the weak guard on the side of the RCC bridge which was built more than 40 year back.

He also fixed the responsibility of the misfortune accident to the state PWD stating that it was due to lack of on time maintenance of the bridge since the construction of the bridge 40 year back.

He also demanded repairing of the bridge at the earliest as there is possibility of recurrence of the incident again in future.

A statement of the IGAR (South) today claimed that troops of 42 Assam Rifles of 26 Sector under HQ IGAR(South) has also provided assistance to accident victims.

It stated that a medical team led by Medical officer along with rescue party of the troops immediately rushed to the accident site and assisted in the evacuation of the deceased and injured persons to Chandel civil hospital.

In the accident five persons died on the spot while 38 persons injured.

One Medical Officer with paramedical staff along with necessary medicines was also sent to the hospital to assist the medical staff at District hospital, the statement informed adding that residents of the area expressed gratitude and appreciation to the dedicated humane approach of Assam Rifles.

Meanwhile, the dead bodies of five persons including two minors died in the accident have been taken by the respective families after postmortem at RIMS morgue.

Slain persons were identified as LH Binahring Anal (13) son of LH Rangaling, RT Mancha Anal (10) daughter of RT Wollum, TB Norala (30) daughter of TB Ribung, Khiti Anal son of KL Tunshen and Nabo Kom son of SR Bero.

All were from Chakpikarong village.

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