Mizoram bridge

Aizawl, Aug 24: At least 18 workers lost their lives in Mizoram when a steel girder of an under-construction railway bridge tragically collapsed at a construction site near Aizawl. This shocking incident occurred in Sairang, located in the Aizawl district, approximately 19 kilometers away from Aizawl city. The devastating event unfolded around 11 a.m. on a fateful Wednesday morning, leaving behind a trail of destruction and sorrow.

Rescue operations commenced immediately and continued throughout the day, with authorities tirelessly working to save other workers who were present at the construction site. These laborers were positioned on the girder, which was perched at a daunting height of around 100 meters in the hilly terrain of the region when the unfortunate collapse occurred.

As of 5:00 pm on that same day, Mizoram’s Transport Minister, T.J. Lalnuntluanga, confirmed that while they had recovered 16 lifeless bodies from the site, an additional two had been located but were yet to be retrieved. Tragically, five workers remained unaccounted for, and three others sustained injuries during the incident. Lalnuntluanga also disclosed that the construction was being carried out by ABCI Infrastructures Private Limited.

Sabyasachi De, the Chief Public Relations Officer of the North East Frontier Railway, shed light on the incident, stating, “A railway safety team was already at the site during the incident since some construction work was happening. The launching of a steel girder in an under-construction bridge was being done by a contractor, and it is this girder which collapsed. The NDRF reached the site within half an hour, and now the state team has taken over the rescue operation.” However, the precise cause of the collapse was still under investigation.

Multiple teams, including two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and two state disaster teams, were actively involved in carrying out the arduous rescue operations, demonstrating unwavering dedication amidst this tragedy.

In response to the devastating incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi swiftly announced that each of the deceased workers’ next of kin would receive Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, while those injured would receive Rs 50,000 in compensation. Additionally, the railway ministry pledged to provide an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased, Rs 2 lakh to the seriously injured, and Rs 50,000 to those with minor injuries.

The workers involved in this tragedy hailed from West Bengal, prompting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to take immediate action. She directed the state’s Chief Secretary to coordinate with the Mizoram administration for rescue and assistance operations, assuring that the West Bengal government would provide “due compensation” to the affected families.

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The nation mourned this unfortunate incident, with the Prime Minister’s Office conveying its condolences to the families affected by the bridge mishap in Mizoram.

President Draupadi Murmu also expressed her grief and condolences to the bereaved families, praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. This incident serves as a painful reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety measures in construction projects and ensuring the well-being of all workers involved.