What Led to the Arrests After the Harang River Bridge Collapse?

Guwahati, June 19 (NationPress) The Assam Police have taken action by arresting five suspects and suspending three police officers after the recent collapse of a newly renovated bridge over the Harang River in the Cachar district.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, causing a significant disruption to a vital connection between the Barak Valley and neighboring states such as Tripura, Mizoram, and Manipur. The bridge, situated on the Silchar-Kalain Road, failed under the load of two overloaded trucks that fell into the river, injuring both drivers.

Fortunately, no deaths were reported. According to Cachar Superintendent of Police Numal Mahatta, a formal case has been filed. Among the five arrested are three employees from a central weighbridge sanctioned by the Assam government and two personnel from Bharat Electronics Weighbridge, a construction firm based in Haryana.

In a separate development, three police officers, including an assistant sub-inspector, have been placed under suspension while a departmental inquiry is conducted.

"Disciplinary measures have been initiated for allegedly permitting the trucks to bypass the checkpoint," Mahatta stated.

Initial investigations indicate that the bridge collapsed when one of the overloaded trucks attempted to overtake the other, impacting a weak section of the structure.

This collapse has severely hindered road access between Cachar, Hailakandi, and Karimganj districts in Barak Valley and the neighboring northeastern states.

In response, authorities have implemented boat services for local commuters and opened two alternate routes for light vehicles. Cachar Deputy Commissioner Mridul Yadav denied reports claiming that the Barak Valley was entirely cut off.

“Connectivity remains intact through alternate routes,” he assured.

Yadav also mentioned that a pre-fabricated Bailey bridge is being transported from Patna and is expected to be installed in the next two weeks to restore normal traffic.

As investigations into the collapse of the newly reopened Harang River bridge continue, local residents are blaming subpar repair work and official negligence.

The bridge, which has been in service for decades, had just resumed operations last month after nearly two years of restoration work. Residents argue that the bridge was not structurally equipped to handle heavy traffic.

“The weight limit was clearly 40 tonnes, yet the trucks were carrying close to 120 tonnes of stone,” stated Farida Parvin Laskar, a member of the zilla parishad.

She further noted that the vehicles passed through three checkpoints—one located merely 50 meters from the collapsed bridge—without being stopped or inspected.

The allegations have heightened public scrutiny regarding both the quality of the repair work and the accountability of local law enforcement prior to the incident.