17 Killed in indian railway bridge collapse

Published

3 years ago

August 23, 2023

17 Killed In Indian Railway Bridge Collapse

At least 17 laborer’s working on a railway bridge being built across a ravine in India’s eastern Mizoram state were killed when it collapsed on Wednesday, officials said, with others reported missing. India’s extensive railway system is used by many millions of people every day.

The government has launched high-speed trains as part of plans to modernize the network but critics say it has not focused enough on safety and upgrading ageing infrastructure.

National Daily Newspaper checking the background issues related to the crashes gathered that at least 288 people were killed in June in India’s worst rail crash in more than two decades. It was blamed on signal failure.

In October last year, a colonial-era suspension bridge collapsed in Morbi in the western state of Gujarat, killing 135.

In June, a suspension bridge being built in the country’s poorest state of Bihar collapsed, killing one person.

Video footage posted by Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga showed a metal frame that had toppled off towering columns into a wooded valley below.

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Under construction railway over bridge at Sairang, near Aizawl collapsed today; at least 17 workers died, Zoramthanga, who uses only one name, said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Inside source quoted a witness that confirmed that 17 bodies had been recovered and “many others” were still missing.

It was not possible to immediately verify the reports of people missing.

Rescue operations are underway and all possible assistance is being given to those affected.

The office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi expresses his grievances about the accident and offered his condolences to those who have lost their loved ones, stating that the government will pay some $2,400 to the next of kin of those injured and killed in the accident.