Railways constitute four-member high-level committee to probe Mizoram bridge collapse

Aizawl, 28 Aug (Zoram News): In a devastating incident that shook the nation, an under-construction railway bridge in Mizoram collapsed, resulting in the loss of several lives. The Ministry of Railways has taken swift action by forming a distinguished four-member high-level committee to delve into the cause behind the collapse. The unfortunate event has left 22 individuals dead, 3 injured, and one person still missing, as rescue efforts continue for the third consecutive day.

Efforts to locate the missing individual amidst the debris of the collapsed bridge persist, with rescue workers tirelessly sifting through the wreckage. The recovered bodies have been respectfully sent to their homes via ambulance. Among the injured, two have been discharged from the hospital and allowed to return home, while one remains under medical care.

The Ministry of Railway acted promptly by establishing a High-Level Committee on August 24. This committee, spearheaded by BP Awasthi, PED-II, RDSO, comprises three other esteemed members: Dr. Dipti Ranjan Sahoo, Associate Dean & Professor of Structural Engineering at IIT Delhi; Sharad Kumar Agarwal, a Professor specializing in Bridges at IRICEN; and Sandeep Sharma, Chief Bridge Engineer of NF Railway. The committee's focused inquiry aims to uncover the reasons behind the girder collapse of Bridge No. 196, a crucial segment of the Bairabi-Sairang New Line Project. The high-level committee is committed to presenting its comprehensive report within the span of a month.

The extensive rescue operation involves a collaborative effort from various entities, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Border Security Force (BSF), State Administration, and Police. Together, they are diligently working to recover bodies from the debris. The skilled tracker dogs of BSF and police have also played a pivotal role in locating deceased individuals amidst the wreckage.