India Bridge Collapse: 26 Dead as Railway Bridge Under Construction Gives Way

Tragedy Strikes as Bridge Collapse Claims Lives in India's Northeast

In a devastating incident on the 23rd, at least 26 individuals lost their lives as a railway bridge under construction collapsed in northeastern India.

The collapse occurred in the village of Sailang, near the town of Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram state.

According to Indian authorities, 26 casualties have been confirmed, and 3 individuals have been rescued from the wreckage. Initially, it was believed that 28 workers were at the site when the accident happened, but local media reported that the number might have been as high as 40.

A police official, who chose to remain anonymous, informed Reuters that rescue teams are continuing their search efforts, suspecting that more missing individuals might be trapped beneath the debris.

The state-owned Indian railway company, 'Northeast Frontier Railway' (NFR), took to Twitter to report that the collapse occurred while constructing a railway line connecting Bairabi village and Sailang.

NFR spokesperson Savio D'Souza explained that they had undertaken the project to lay tracks in the previously unconnected Aizawl, securing a contract from the Federal Railway Ministry. The incident took place as construction cranes were installing supports for the bridge.

An investigation committee has been established by NFR to delve into the exact causes of the incident, particularly focusing on the collapsed construction crane that reportedly buried workers. The ill-fated bridge was a part of a 51 km railway line connecting Khamrang and Sihmui within Mizoram, with completion originally scheduled for this December.

All the victims of the tragedy were reported to be from the state of Sikkim. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and announced financial aid of 200,000 rupees (approximately $2,700) for the families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees (around $670) for the injured.

Unfortunately, bridge collapses are not uncommon in India. Just last October, a pedestrian-only overpass collapsed in the western state of Gujarat, resulting in the deaths of 140 people. The incident followed another collapse seven months prior, when a bridge was reopened for public use without appropriate repairs and safety checks, highlighting the grave consequences of negligence.