Ece Goksedef & Kathryn Armstrong - BBC News
Wed, August 23, 2023
At least 26 people have been killed and more are feared missing after a railway bridge under construction collapsed in north-eastern India, officials said.
The incident occurred near the town of Sairang, in the state of Mizoram.
Up to 40 workers were at the site when part of the bridge collapsed, according to local media reports.
The cause of the incident is not yet clear and the railway authority has opened an investigation. Three people have so far been rescued.
That includes an injured worker who had to be brought down from the top of one of the bridge's 100m-high (328ft) pillars.
The incident happened over the Kurung River, about 20km (12 miles) from the city of Aizawl, Mizoram's capital.
"All possible assistance is being given to those affected," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office in a statement.
The government will pay some 200,000 rupees (£1,900; $2,400) to the next of kin of those killed, it added.
The victims are all from West Bengal, according to railway officials.
"Words cannot express the depth of sorrow and sympathy for the families affected by this tragic event," said Mizoram's Home Minister Lalchamliana.
The Khamrang-Sihhmui railway line will be 51km long and is due to be completed in December after work began nearly two years ago.
Accidents on these kinds of construction sites are not uncommon in India.
In October last year, more than 140 people were killed when a pedestrian suspension bridge collapsed in India's western state of Gujarat.
Doug Cunningham
Wed, August 23, 2023
At least 17 workers were killed Wednesday when an under-construction bridge collapsed in India's Mizoram state. More are feared trapped as rescuers work to find them. Pictured is a suspension bridge collapse in Morbi, Gujarat, India, Oct. 31, 2022, that killed 135 people. File Photo by Siddharaj Solanki/EPA-EFE
Aug. 23 (UPI) -- At least 17 workers were killed Wednesday and dozens of others may be trapped in a railway bridge collapse in northeast India.
The bridge was under construction.
The bridge collapsed around 10 a.m. local time near the Sairang area of Mizoram state according to police.
"Seventeen bodies have been recovered from the debris so far... many others are still missing," a police officer said, according to Indian news media.
Rescue operations are underway for the additional workers feared trapped by the collapse.
Seventeen workers died in an Indian bridge collapse Wednesday in Mizoram state. Shown here is a deadly May 2018 bridge collapse in Varanasi, India. File Photo by Prabhat Kumar Verma/EPA-EFE
Prime Minister Narenda Modi said in a statement: "Pained by the bridge mishap in Mizoram. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. Rescue operations are underway and all possible assistance is being given to those affected."
Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga said on X: "In an unfortunate incident during bridge work by contractor a girder has fallen down in Bhairbi-Sairang new line project in the state of Mizoram...High level inquiry committee has also been constituted to investigate the matter."
"Shocked to learn about the tragic collapse today of an under-construction railway bridge in Mizoram, leading to loss of lives of several site workers, including some belonging to our Malda district," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a statement. "Have instructed my chief secretary to coordinate with Mizoram administration at once for rescue/ assistance operations."
In November 2022, a bridge collapse in India's Morbi, Gujarat area killed 135 people in one of the worst infrastructure accidents in India's history.
No comments:
Post a Comment