Aizwal: At least 17 workers were killed and several others injured on Wednesday after an under-construction railway bridge collapsed near the Sairang area of Mizoram.
The incident occurred around 10 am, when the bridge was being built over the Tlawng river. The bridge was being constructed as part of the Lumding-Silchar railway line.
The workers were on the bridge when it suddenly collapsed, trapping them under the debris. Rescue workers rushed to the scene and were able to pull out 17 bodies. Several others are still missing and feared dead.
The cause of the collapse is not yet known, but police are investigating. They said that the bridge was being built by a private contractor and that the workers were mostly from outside the state.
The collapse is a major tragedy and has sent shock waves across the state. The Chief Minister has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and has ordered a probe into the incident.
The collapse has also raised questions about the safety of under-construction projects in the state. In recent years, there have been several accidents involving under-construction buildings and bridges.
The government has promised to take steps to ensure the safety of workers and to prevent such accidents from happening in the future.
The collapse of the railway bridge is a major setback for the development of Mizoram. The state is heavily dependent on railways and the collapse of the bridge will disrupt transportation in the region.