Manipur: Militants blow up PMGSY bridge in Kamjong, cut off villages
Synopsis
Suspected militants used IEDs to demolish a PMGSY-built bailey bridge in Manipur's Kamjong district overnight, snapping the only road link between the district headquarters and Sahamphung Sub-Division. With a government vehicle also torched and no group yet named, the attack underscores the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in Manipur's remote hill districts.
Key Takeaways
Suspected militants blew up a 130-foot bailey bridge over the Namban River in Kamjong district, Manipur during the night of 22 July using IEDs.
The bridge was built in 2016 under the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and served as the primary link to several remote hill villages.
A government Bolero pick-up vehicle parked near the riverbank was also set ablaze by the assailants.
The attack has severed road connectivity between Kamjong district headquarters and Sahamphung Sub-Divisional headquarters , disrupting movement of people, goods, and medical services.
A suo motu case has been registered at Chandel Police Station ; security forces have launched a search operation.
The Tangkhul Naga Long strongly condemned the incident, calling it a blow to the region's lifeline infrastructure.
Suspected militants blew up a 130-foot bailey bridge over the Namban River in Manipur's Kamjong district using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, severing road connectivity to several remote hill villages, officials said on 22 July. A government vehicle parked near the riverbank was also set ablaze in the same attack.
What Happened
The explosion struck the bailey bridge located between Phange and Chatric villages in the Naga-inhabited Kamjong district, according to police. Villagers reported hearing a powerful blast and suspected that high-intensity explosives had been deployed, causing the structure to collapse at its midpoint.
A Bolero pick-up vehicle belonging to a government organisation, parked on the bank of the Namban Lok River, was also torched by the unidentified assailants before they fled the area, officials added.
Strategic Importance of the Destroyed Bridge
The bridge, constructed in 2016 under the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), served as the primary road link connecting Chatric and several neighbouring mountainous villages with the Kamjong district headquarters. The Tangkhul Naga Long, a leading organisation of the Tangkhul Naga community, said the destruction has completely severed the vital road corridor between the Kamjong district headquarters and the Sahamphung Sub-Divisional headquarters.
The organisation described the bridge as 'an important lifeline for residents,' facilitating the movement of people, essential commodities, medical services, and government officials. Its destruction, the group said, has seriously disrupted normal life across the remote hill district.
Police Response and Investigation
According to police, the attack appears to have been aimed at damaging critical public infrastructure, disrupting transportation and communication, obstructing public movement, and creating fear among the local population. A suo motu case has been registered at Chandel Police Station, and an investigation is under way to identify those responsible.
Security forces have launched a search operation in the surrounding areas to trace the perpetrators. Officials are simultaneously assessing the extent of the damage and exploring measures to restore connectivity at the earliest.
Community Condemnation
The Tangkhul Naga Long strongly condemned the incident in a statement, calling the attack an act that has caused 'immense hardship to the local population.' The organisation's condemnation reflects broader civilian anxiety in a district where infrastructure links are already thin and difficult to maintain given the mountainous terrain.
This comes amid an ongoing security situation in Manipur, where targeted attacks on public infrastructure have periodically compounded the difficulties faced by communities in remote hill districts. Authorities have not yet attributed the attack to any specific group, and investigations remain at an early stage.
Point of View
Medical access lapses, and fear compounds over weeks, not hours. Manipur's hill districts are already among the most logistics-constrained regions in the country, and each such attack sets back years of connectivity investment. The absence of a claimed responsibility and the early-stage investigation suggest that attribution will be contested — a pattern that has historically slowed accountability in the state's complex insurgency landscape.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the bridge in Kamjong, Manipur?
Suspected militants used IEDs to blow up a 130-foot bailey bridge over the Namban River in Kamjong district during the intervening night of 22 July. The explosion caused the structure to collapse at its midpoint, severing road links to several remote hill villages.
Which bridge was destroyed and when was it built?
The destroyed structure was a 130-foot bailey bridge constructed in 2016 under the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). It connected Chatric and neighbouring mountainous villages to the Kamjong district headquarters.
Who has been held responsible for the Kamjong bridge blast?
No group has been officially named as responsible. Police have registered a suo motu case at Chandel Police Station and launched an investigation; security forces are conducting a search operation in the surrounding areas.
How does the bridge destruction affect local residents?
The blast has completely cut the road link between Kamjong district headquarters and Sahamphung Sub-Divisional headquarters, disrupting the movement of people, essential commodities, medical services, and government officials across the remote hill district.
What has the Tangkhul Naga Long said about the incident?
The Tangkhul Naga Long, a leading organisation of the Tangkhul Naga community, strongly condemned the attack. It described the bridge as 'an important lifeline for residents' and said its destruction has caused immense hardship and seriously affected normal life in the region.
