West Bengal: After Kolkata, A Bridge Now Collapses In Siliguri

Yet another bridge has collapsed within a week’s time in Bengal, after the fall of the Majerhat bridge in Kolkata on 4 September, which killed at least three people, and trapped several others.

Phansidewa bridge near Siliguri collapsed on Friday (7 September) when a truck was carrying materials from one end of the bridge to the other. The bridge connects Rakhalganj and Manganj.

Bengal Tourism Minister Gautam Deb reached the site to inspect the matter.

As per a Press Trust of India report, the incident happened at about 9.30 AM, when the centre of the bridge gave way. The North Bengal Development Minister Rabindranath Ghosh said that heavy vehicles were banned on the bridge.

Also following the collapse of the Majerhat bridge, a committee led by Chief Secretary Malay Kumar De has been formed to investigate the reasons for the collapse. Majerhat bridge connected the Kolkata port to the southwest of the city.

He added that due to the collapse of the bridge, and restrictions imposed on vehicular movements with heavy goods, will affect dispatches to Nepal, since the land-locked neighbouring country has been importing construction material through Kolkata port, which normally ships the bigger containers.

CM Mamata Banerjee informed that the state administration has been directed to clear all unauthorised settlements under flyovers. Displaced will be resettled, she said, according to Mint.