Bridge collapses under weight of truck
Source: The Sangai Express / Sinlianmang Guite
Lamka, January 17:
Twenty people mostly residents of Behiang, a village bordering Myanmar were killed in a mishap today as a bridge collapsed as the truck they were travelling in crossed over it at Sehken village.
The incident occurred when a newly constructed wooden bridge built between Hiangtam and Sehken village collapsed while the truck was crossing over it.
Sixteen dead bodies were reportedly retrieved from the spot while another three succumbed enroute to Singngat.
In all thirty four injured people were brought to the hospital here at around 7:45pm. A woman later succumbed to her injuries at CCpur district hospital at about 10 pm.
A couple of pregnant women and atleast four children were among the injured.
Though some were visibly critical, a doctor attending to them said that they are stable.
Philanthropic organizations, civil societies and student bodies have opened up at least three information and donation centres as thousands of curious and pained individuals swarmed the hospital campus.
Within an hour, the contributions received by the centre had reached Rs 20,000 while atleast 20 people have volunteered to donate blood.
9 Assam Rifles , under whose initiative the injured and dead were brought till Singngat, provided first-aid to the injured and brought them till the district hospital here.
Their counterparts in 3 AR and and 140 BSF waited for their arrival with blankets, medical aids and doctors besides the State doctors and nurses who volunteered.
The Medical Sans Frontiers have also arranged a complete medical kit for the temporarily arranged Casualty Dept.
Moments before the victims arrived here, Dr T Shoute told this correspondent that all resources within the capacity of the district hospital have been utilized and along with doctors and nurses from MSF and Army were ready to tackle any eventualities.
DC/CCpur Sumant Singh who personally received the injured and supervised the treatment said help has been sought from every Govt machineries within his purview.
"We are even planning to relocate some of the injured to the Army and BSF hospitals," he said.
The IAS officer further said that a Ministerial team will be visiting the spot to get a first hand report tomorrow.
A reliable source informed the media today that the bridge that was responsible for today's tragedy was constructed by one Kamzamang and was inaugurated only in the last part of last year.
It is not known what action the Ministerial team will initiate, but it is said that relief packages for the victims will be announced by them.
The bodies were shifted to their respective villages later in the day as the Chief Minister is said to have personally instructed that the bodies should be taken to their respective villages immediately.