Swept away bridge 'maroons' people
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 30 2015:
A bailey bridge built across Imphal river at Motbung which was swept away by swirling flood waters in August this year has not been restored till date thereby creating lots of difficulties to people of around 10 villages.
After the bridge which served as a key component of the road leading to Pukhao from Motbung was swept away by flood waters, school-going children, peasants as well as the general public have been facing severe inconveniences, said Thingsat village chief Letkholen Lotjen to a team of media persons today.
Second World War Imphal Campaign Foundation Member Raja Misao said that the Motbung- Pukhao road was constructed in 1965 and the bailey bridge which formed a key component of the road was swept away by flood in 1989.In its place, a new bailey bridge was constructed in 1991 and the same bridge was swept away by flood this year.
Across the bridge, there is a hillock called Tank Ridge locally known as Tankbung and the same ridge was code named Isaac by British soldiers during the World War-II.
Motbung village was originally located two miles to the east of its present location and it was then known a Modbung.
After two Japanese soldiers were killed by villagers, the whole village was burnt down by Japanese soldiers, and the village shifted to its present location along Imphal-Dimapur highway.
According to war diaries collected by war historians, 95 Japanese soldiers were buried in Tankbung where 10 British soldiers were also killed by Japanese combatants, Raja Misao said.
A few months back, a Japanese documentary filmmaker visited the place and shot a film sequence.
Seven British Nationals too came to the ridge and offered Poppy Cross (Holy Cross attached with poppy flower) there, Raja Misao continued.
Highlighting the historical significance of the ridge and the key connectivity provided the bailey bridge, Raja Misao urged the concerned authority to construct the bridge anew at the earliest.