AIZAWL: The central committee of Young Mizo Association or Central YMA has demanded a probe into the collapse of an under-construction railway bridge at Sairang near Aizawl in Mizoram.
In a heart-wrenching incident on August 23, an under-construction railway bridge near Sairang, just 21 km from the capital Aizawl in Mizoram, collapsed, leading to the tragic loss of 23 lives. The Central Committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) has called for a thorough investigation into the disaster. The mishap occurred during the launching of a gantry onto the bridge over the Kurung River.
The central YMA also urged ABCI and Silchar-based BBJ companies, which executed the construction of the bridge, to provide ex-gratia to the victims.
Railways, in its preliminary findings, have attributed the accident to the collapse of the gantry being launched onto the bridge. The bridge’s construction was underway with aspirations of improving transportation infrastructure in the area.
Mizoram IGP (Law and Order), Lalbiakthanga Khiangte has reported that 18 bodies have already been recovered from the wreckage, while five individuals remain unaccounted for. Distressingly, all 12 identified casualties hailed from West Bengal, emphasizing the widespread impact of this disaster. It is believed that the other victims also share the same origin.
During the bridge’s collapse, approximately 26 workers were present at the site. The incident has sent shockwaves through the nation, underlining the critical importance of stringent safety measures during construction projects, particularly those of such magnitude.