Officials inspect damaged bridge
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 07 2024: A team of the officials including PWD engineers made a spot assessment of the Sugnu-Napat bridge which was damaged in the violent conflict in the intervening night of May 27 and 28, 2023 .

The bridge built over Manipur River was damaged in fierce attacks carried out by Kuki militants at Sugnu and Serou in Kakching district and Napat and Tangjeng in Bishnupur district.

The team comprising PWD Bishnupur AE Salam Anil and other staff, MLA S Premchandra's (Kumbi AC) PA S Herojit, Wangoo Borayangbi Pradhan Romesh Thiyam, SDPO Sugnu Suresh Anthony and BSF 131 Bn's CO made a direct assessment of the bridge on November 6 .

The damaged bridge is a key link to Napat and Tangjeng villages, and the team inspected the bridge as a part of the Government's efforts to resettle the displaced people of the two villages at their homes.

The inspection was carried out at the instruction of Chief Minister N Biren and MLA S Premchandra.

After inspecting the damaged bridge, PWD engineers identified the components which need to be replaced.

Notably, both Napat and Tangjeng villages are surrounded by several Kuki villages.

Taking advantage of the absence of security forces at the two Meitei villages, Kuki militants and their supporters attacked the two villages in the intervening night of May 27 and 28, 2023 and burnt down all the houses and other structures.

Residents of the two villages who fled away from their homes in the wake of the fierce attack have been taking shelter in relief camps opened at different places since then.

The displaced villagers have been urging the Government to make necessary arrangements so that they can return to their villages and homes.

Heeding to their repeated appeals, the Government took up the initiative of repairing the damaged bridge, sources said.

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