TURA, Jan 6 � An under construction PWD bridge in the Akhonggre area in the heart of Tura collapsed on Friday at about 7.30 pm injuring three persons. They were immediately rushed to the Tura Civil Hospital for treatment and are said to be out of danger.
The collapse of the bridge has led to some very angry reactions from the residents of the locality.
The bridge was being constructed by contractor, Kartus Marak, who was picked up by the police in the morning yesterday but let off as no FIR has been filed. While the reasons for the collapse are yet unknown, locals have alleged that the poor materials being used in the construction was the prime reason for the collapse.
This is the third incident of a bridge collapsing in the Garo Hills region in the last one year. In July last year, an under construction bridge collapsed killing the Executive Engineer who had gone to inspect the construction. Another one in Jadi met with the same fate. The third collapse in Tura on Friday has evoked a lot of very angry reactions.
A resident of Akhonggre, Emphong Marak, said, �This is the fault of the PWD as its officers do not take the pain of inspecting the sites thus allowing the contractors to use sub-standard materials.
A Matchakolgre resident , Soshon A Sangma said, �This is the condition of most of the works in the Garo Hills region. Roads, schools, colleges, bridges, everywhere you see, works are always not getting done. Something needs to be done to ensure that these guilty people are taken to task�.
Meanwhile, the SP of WGH, Mukesh Singh confirmed that all efforts were being made to arrest the contractor. DC WGH, Pravin Bakshi said that a magisterial enquiry will be instituted. The enquiry will be completed within a week and an FIR filed if it is found that the work done was substandard.
