MNF demands resignation of Mizoram PWD minister over bailey bridge collapse

Mizo National Front sitting MLA Lalruatkima on Tuesday demanded resignation of Mizoram PWD minister Lal Thanzara following collapse of bailey bridge on Tuirini river that left one dead and several others injured.

MNF legislator Lalruatkima visited Sesawng bridge collapse site on Tuesday.

“The PWD minister Lal Thanzara should take this as a moral responsibility and submit his resignation and an ex gratia of at least Rs 10 lakhs should be given to HC Lalfakzuala’s family,” Lalruatkima said.

The MNF party general secretary Lalruatkima said the Congress government has failed on all fronts and the government’s negligence has resulted in the fatal accident.

“Since the Congress came to power in Mizoram and within a span of just four years, there have been four incidents of bridge collapse wherein three people have died. I express my heartfelt condolences to the victim and his family. I am filled with anger to have learnt again that the government’s negligence has caused another fatal accident,” Lalruatkima said.

“Accidents can happen, but these accidents are the result of negligence, the ruling Congress party should accept that they are inefficient to rule the state of Mizoram,” Lal Ruatkima added.

A bailey bridge over river Tuirini between Sesawng town and Khawruhlian collapsed earlier on Tuesday morning, one HC Lalfakzuala, a resident of Sesawng Venglai died on the spot and several persons were injured.

The bridge near Sesawng village, about 40 kilometres from the state capital Aizawl is being constructed by the state’s Public Works Department. The construction work of which began sometime early January this year. Though not yet completed, the main structural works having been already erected, residents use this bridge for river crossing.

Majority of river crossings along the highways in Mizoram are bailey bridges, most of them were built by the Border Roads Task Force in the early seventies. There had been at least four major bridge collapse in the past 5 years in Mizoram which has caused several casualties.