Driver dies as newly constructed bridge collapses
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 30 2024: A driver of a truck carrying timber wood got killed after a newly constructed but yet to be inaugurated bailey bridge over Imphal River connecting Mutum Phibou, Imphal West district and Irong Khunou, Wabagai AC collapsed around 5am Sunday.

Meanwhile, three other occupants of the truck were rescued by locals and rushed for treatment.

The deceased driver has been identified as Dolaipa-bam Md Borajao (45) s/.o Md Ibocha of Mayang Imphal Bengoon Yangbi, while the three survivors have been identified as Makakmayum Amin (28) s/o Md Nasiruddin and Md Tarif Hussain (21) s/o (L) Md Aktar Hussain of Mayang Imphal Bengoon, and Md Ashif Hussain (18) .

The truck belonged to one Sapam Ibomcha of Hiyanglam Awang Leikai.

According to reports, the bailey bridge was constructed by a contractor Md Salam Khan & Brothers under the RD & PR Department as component of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Scheme of the state government.

Although it was yet to be inaugurated after completion, people from both sides had already started to use the same.

On Sunday morning, a truck loaded with timber wood was trying to cross the bridge when it collapsed.

Though people nearby managed to save three occupants of the truck, the driver could not be found.

Since the bridge had collapse in the middle of the river, the broken parts of the bridge managed to block the truck.

Teams of Wangoi Police, Manipur Fire Service and the locals worked together to retrieve the truck which on being lifted using a crane, had the driver's lifeless body.

Later, MAHUD minister Yumnam Khemchand arrived at the scene and took stock of the situation.

Speaking to newspersons, minister Khemchand noted locals warning and prohibiting plying of heavy vehicles on the bridge.

However, some continued to forcefully cross the bridge, leading to the unfortunate incident on Sunday.

Stating that there might be some technical defects with the bridge as per his interaction with the locals, he said that an inquiry report will be made within three days and efforts made to restructure the bridge at the earliest.

He also mentioned that the collapse of a bridge in Kanto Sabal was due to overloading.

Immediately after the bridge collapsed, teams of engineers and media rushed to the side and found that the bridge collapsed after a vehicle carrying load of 40 tonne attempted to cross the bridge whose weight limit was from 20 to 24 kg, he conveyed.

Regarding the bridge being constructed at K Molnom despite the government's prohibition, Khemchand said that the bridge is in no way related to PMGSY.

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