Guwahati, India, Aug 23 (The Street Press) – On Wednesday, a railway bridge under construction in India collapsed, resulting in the unfortunate loss of at least 26 workers’ lives and injuring two, said police. The state-operated railway authority has initiated an investigation into the matter.
The incident occurred in Sairang town, located in the northeastern state of Mizoram. Zoramthanga, the chief minister of Mizoram, shared this information on the messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
While media reports suggested that as many as 40 workers were at the site when the bridge collapsed, the police have stated that there were 28 workers present during the incident.
13 bodies have been successfully recovered by rescue workers at this point. According to an unidentified state police official who spoke to Reuters, ongoing efforts are being made to retrieve the remaining bodies.
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) conveyed through a statement on the messaging platform X, previously known as Twitter, that the incident took place while work was underway on the Bhairabi-Sairang New Line Railway Project.
As stated on its website, the NRF mentioned that the project’s objective is to establish a connection between Mizoram and the rest of the country. This connection is expected to enhance “tourism and socio-economic development” in the region.
The NFR informed that a “high-level enquiry committee” has been established to conduct an investigation into the incident.
In a statement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned that every possible assistance is being provided to those impacted by the tragedy.
India’s expansive railway system serves millions of people daily. While the government has introduced high-speed trains as part of modernization efforts, critics argue that safety and updating aging infrastructure haven’t received sufficient attention.
India experienced its most devastating rail accident in over 20 years in June, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 288 lives. This incident was attributed to signal failure.
Furthermore, in October of the previous year, a colonial-era suspension bridge collapsed in the western state of Gujarat, leading to the unfortunate death of 135 individuals.
