'Accident-prone zone, Govt ignored warnings'
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 21 2022:
Stating that the Chief Minister and his government had previously been warned of the area near Longsai village in Noney district, the site where many students of Thambalnu Higher Secondary School were killed while going for a study tour on Wednesday, being highly accident-prone, with records of several mishaps in the past; Longsai village chief Kabidon Gonmei has asserted that the unfortunate accident was caused due to the negligence of the government.
Addressing a press meet at Manipur Press Club, here, on Wednesday, Kabidon expressed his grief over the demise of many students after one of the two buses engaged for a study tour met with an accident at Longsai village Part-III .
The villagers in the area immediately sprang into action after the accident occurred and extended all possible help, he added.
Kabidon said that the stretch of Tongjil Maril road is highly accident-prone due to the thick shrubbery, some of which have been fatal.
As such, the village authority had met the Chief Minister last year and also in June/July this year with related photographs and urged him (CM) to take note of the matter.
The CM assured of repairing the road but no action was taken up till date.
Prior to the assembly polls, promises were made to elevate the road to the national highway level, he recounted.
As the 5 km stretch of the road from Laimaton to Leimatak declines sharply, heavy/large vehicles often face accidents.
Previously, a house in the village was struck by a vehicle carrying bricks, causing extensive damages.
Fortunately, no one was inside the house at the time thereby preventing any casualty.
Meanwhile, 4 workers from Imphal, who were on a work trip to Tamenglong, met with an accident at the exact location of Wednesday's accident and died on the spot, he recounted.
Kabidon then said that the unfortunate accident occurred due to the negligence of the CM and the works minister.
The government claims both the hills and the valley are one but has not shown the same in action.
Although the three turning points in Longsai village pose high risk, lack of requisite action such as proper repair led to the tragic accident on Wednesday.
Thus, he urged for repairing and re-aligning the road at the earliest to prevent similar accidents in the future and facilitate tourists who want to visit Khoupum Dam.
He then expressed deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their dear and near ones in the accident and prayed for the departed souls to rest in peace, while further wishing speedy recovery of the injured.