Sub-standard material found in bridge construction, toll rises to 23
Minister vague on fixing responsibilities
Source: The Sangai Express / Sinlianmang Guite

Lamka, January 18: A day after twenty people were killed in a tragic road mishap over Ngasuan stream near S Sehken village, Works Minister K Ranjit merely accepted moral responsibility over the incident even after conducting a first hand inspection of the situation that led to the tragedy.

On the other hand the death toll in the tragic road accident has risen to 23 with three more succumbing to their injuries today.

Of the 28 people undergoing treatment, two of them are still in critical conditions, said sources.

The district Deputy Commissioner, Sumant Singh said that the Government is providing free treatment and medicines to the injured and added that three pharmacies have been engaged to provide the needed drugs.

NIPCO has condoled the death of the passengers and also shared the grief and pain of the bereaved family members.

The ill fated truck at the river bed and the rickety bridge which gave way leading to the mishap over Ngasuan stream near S Sehken village

A team of media representatives which went to the spot today established that substandard, hollow and soft wood were used in constructing the bridge that collapsed at around afternoon yesterday.

While inspecting the shattered portion of the bridge, the team saw that the material used in the construction of the bridge were below par, not fit even for making household items and structures, let alone, a bridge over a main road.

So dismal is the quality of the wood that it could be torn apart with the naked hand and can be ground into dust by just stepping over it with the foot.

Talking to this correspondent today at Sehken village, Paukhanmang a survival said that it was about 12 noon when their truck carrying about 180 bags of charcoal and another hundred passenger passed over the rickety bridge.

"As the rear wheel touched the bridge, the wooden planks that held the right wheel caved in throwing the entire truck out of balance and plunging it head on into the river" he said.

"I along with two others could manage to jump off, but the rest were thrown into the river bed.

There was an errie silence all over and I didn't hear even a moan of pain or cry," he said recollecting his nightmarish experience.

"When atlast I dared to look around, I could see two people standing not far from me.

Shocked and shaken, I along with one of them ran bare foot to Sehken and it neighbouring village shouting for help," he said further.

The lucky survivor further said that he reached his village T Behiang within minutes and immediately fixed a PA system to alert the people who were in the jungle and jhum fields and its neighbouring villages.

Of the two persons he saw after he recovered his composure, one man was left behind as his wife who was thrown into the river had already died, he said and identified him as Vungzalian of Tonjang.

A young couple with five children was among the twenty victims who were killed yesterday.

The media team witnessed a poignant and heart rendeing moment at Sehken village as a class seven standard young boy attended to his three young siblings at the funeral of his parents.

The eldest of them was among the injured and was admitted at the hospital.

When asked, K Ranjit who is conducting a spot inquiry after 24 hours of the incident merely said, 'I'll take necessary actions against any one responsible, be it the contractor or the official".

Initially the visiting Minister who claimed that he was entrusted by the Chief Minister to do the needful, hesitated to comment much on the incident but when the media pointed out that sub-standard material were used and that it is the duty of the Government to ensure that no sub-standard material is used, the Minister ultimately come forward with his pledge.

The Works Minister also expressed without reservation his disappointment over the construction that officials had earlier claimed was in progress but which was actually left unattended.

"How can I be happy with this kind of work," he said when asked to comment on the road that is constructed with an estimate cost of Rs 2 crore.

The visiting official and the media team had a heated exchange of words when an official identified as Birendra, SE who was accompanying the Minister insisted that the construction work on Singngat to Likhai is in progress.

The official was however silenced when questioned where the workers were.

The rip-off stones that laid the road were also pointed out to the official. On what steps and actions have been taken by the Government against any official who were responsible for using sub-standard material, the Works Minister merely said "My dear, don't worry, I'll take necessary action".

Besides the Works Minister, three other Cabinet Ministers also visited the injured today and handed over a monetary relief of Rs 10,000 each to the kins of the deceased and Rs 5000, Rs 3000 and Rs 2000 each to the injured depending on their conditions.

Despite the magnitude of the tragedy and the obvious apathy of the Government, no commendable relief package or fitting action has been initiated as of today.

The monetary relief dolled out by the Ministers today were merely a package announced to the mourning crowd last night by the district administration.

The State Government is yet to announce it package, if any.