On August 23, 2023, at least 17 workers were killed after an under-constructed railway bridge collapsed near the Sairang area of the northeastern state of Mizoram, police said.
Several others feared that they were trapped at the site as 35-40 workers were present and working when the incident occurred around 10 AM, about 21km from Aizawl, they said.
Seventeen bodies have been recovered from the debris so far and many others are still missing, a police officer said. More details are awaited.
History of the Bridge
The bridge that collapsed was part of an Indian North Eastern Railways Project to connect all the state capitals in the northeast region. It has been under construction for some years now. We are yet to ascertain the reason behind the accident and how many people were actually present on the spot, Sabyasachi De, the chief public relations officer of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), said.
He also said that railway officials have rushed to the spot, and senior officials of the Northeast Frontier Railway will also visit the site.
Agency Involved in Rescue
The Sairang Branch of the Young Mizo Association is currently carrying out rescue operations. Their efforts are critical in locating and aiding any survivors trapped under the wreckage. The challenging conditions and uncertainty surrounding the number of people on the bridge when it collapsed made the rescue operation much more complex.
Message from Mizoram CM
The Chief Minister of Mizoram, Zoramthanga, in his post on X (formerly called Twitter), tweeted, “Under construction railway bridge at Sairang, Aizawl collapsed today; at least 17 workers died: Rescue under progress. Deeply saddened and afflicted by a tragedy. I extend my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. Sending gratitude to the people who have come out in large numbers to help with rescue operations.”
Also Read: https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1694243854327976314?s=20
PM Modi’s Message
Pained by the bridge mishap in Mizoram, PM Modi sent his condolences to those who lost their lives in the incident. He announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs from the PMNRF to the next kin of each deceased, while those who were injured would be given 50,000 rupees.
“Pained by the bridge mishap in Mizoram. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones May the injured recover soon. Rescue operations are underway, and all possible assistance is given to those affected. Ex-gratia of Rs 2 Lakhs from the PMNRF would be given to the kin of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 would be given to the injured,” the PMO statement on X said.
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