Truck plunges into river as bridge collapses, driver missing
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 30 2024:
A bailey bridge which connects Irong Khunou and Mutum Phibou across Imphal River collapsed when a timber-laden truck was crossing it, plunging the truck into the river.
Even though three persons who were travelling in the truck managed to jump off, the driver is missing.
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (RD&PR) Minister Y Khemchand went to the spot and inspected the collapsed bridge along with Wangoi AC MLA Kh Loken and instructed the officials concerned to institute an enquiry with regard to the bridge collapse.
According to some local people, a truck loaded with timber was crossing the bridge from Mutum Phibou side at around 5.30 am today.
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Even as the local people requested the truck driver and its occupants not to cross the bridge with heavy load, the occupants maintained that the timber loaded in the truck weighed just around 11/12 tonnes. Saying that they would like to take a chance, they drove ahead.
The truck was loaded with a number of sawn timber and they were covered with a layer of pieces of wood meant to be used as firewood.
However, the bridge snapped as the truck reached its centre and the truck plunged into the river.
As the water level is currently quite high, major portions of the truck have been submerged under water, said the villagers.
Four persons including the driver were travelling in the truck and the three occupants survived the accident with minor injuries as they managed to jump off but the driver is still missing.
The driver has been identified as Md Borajao (45) s/o Ibocha of Mayang Imphal Yangbi.
It could not be established till the time of filing this report whether Borajao has been swept away by the water current or trapped inside the truck.
The three occupants who managed to jump off have been identified as Md Amin (28), Md Tarif Hussain (21) and Md Ashif Hussain (18), all belonging to Mayang Imphal Bengoon Leirak Achouba.
On learning about the accident, RD&PR Minister Y Khemchand and MLA Kh Loken went to the spot and inspected the collapsed bridge.
Y Khemchand also instructed the officials concerned to institute an enquiry regarding the incident.
Khemchand rued that the accident would not have occurred had the truck driver and its occupants listened to the villagers' warning not to cross the bridge with heavy load.
He said that the officials have been instructed to carry out an enquiry and submit a report within three days.
An enquiry must be done as it appears from the words of the villagers that the bridge had some technical defects, Khemchand said.
He said that the bridge would be repaired as soon as possible once the enquiry report is received.