Assam bridge collapse: 5 arrested, motion taken in opposition to cops; magisterial probe ordered

Five individuals have been arrested and disciplinary motion has been initiated in opposition to three police personnel, together with an assistant sub-inspector, in reference to a bridge collapse incident in Assam’s Cachar district, a senior police officer mentioned. The newly repaired bridge over the Harang River on the Silchar–Kalain Road collapsed within the early hours of Wednesday. (HT Photo) The newly repaired bridge over the Harang River on the Silchar–Kalain Road collapsed within the early hours of Wednesday when two overloaded vehicles had been passing via it, violating weight restrictions. Though there have been no casualties, the incident disrupted highway connectivity between Assam’s Barak Valley and neighbouring states — Tripura, Mizoram, and Manipur — through Meghalaya. Locals alleged that the vehicles exceeded the permissible weight restrict and that police officers had been complicit in permitting the overloaded automobiles to move. Cachar senior superintendent of police (SSP) Numal Mahatta mentioned that preliminary proof suggests the collapse was triggered by an accident involving one of many vehicles. “It was raining heavily, and one of the trucks, likely speeding, hit a portion of the bridge while crossing. We are investigating the matter, and action has been taken against three police personnel for allowing the trucks through the checkpoint,” Mahatta mentioned. The incident has massively impacted native transportation, because the police, together with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), have begun working boat companies to help residents. Assam minister Kaushik Rai has ordered a high-level probe and directed officers to submit an in depth report on precedence. “I inspected the site and have ordered an investigation. Boat services have been arranged for residents, and alternate routes have been opened for light vehicles,” Rai mentioned. Cachar district Justice of the Peace Mridul Yadav mentioned two alternate routes have been organized for mild automobiles from Barak Valley and neighbouring states. “It is not true that Barak Valley has been cut off from the rest of the country. We’ve arranged alternate routes for the movement of light vehicles,” he mentioned. Yadav additionally introduced {that a} new bridge shall be put in over the river utilizing pre-fabricated supplies sourced from Patna. “It’s a ready-to-install Bailey bridge. The materials will take five days to reach, and installation will take another 10 days. We expect normal traffic to resume in 15 days,” he mentioned. A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed, and the police have arrested 5 individuals: Nizam Uddin Barbhuiya, Kripashindu Baishnab, Altaf Hussain Barbhuiya, Sankhu Bhattacharjee, and Gautam Chandra Paul. Three of the arrested people are staff of the Central Weighbridge, an Assam government-approved facility, whereas two are staffers of Bharat Electronics Weighbridge, a Haryana-based development agency. Rajya Sabha MP from West Bengal and former Silchar MP Sushmita Dev alleged {that a} syndicate engaged within the unlawful transportation of limestone and different supplies from Barak Valley is behind the incident. “The bridge collapsed just weeks after repairs, despite crores being spent. The trucks were overloaded, and yet they passed through multiple checkpoints. I believe a major conspiracy is at play, and big names in the government are involved,” Dev mentioned. She additionally criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and mentioned, “When a bridge collapses in West Bengal, the PM calls it an ‘act of fraud.’ But now that a similar incident has occurred in BJP-ruled Assam, he is silent.”