Railway Bridge Collapse in Mizoram Claims 26 Lives

Tragedy struck in India's northeastern state of Mizoram as a railway bridge under construction collapsed, resulting in the death of at least 26 laborers and leaving several others missing. 

The incident occurred during the construction of a bridge across a ravine in Sairang, a town about 20km from the state's capital, Aizawl.

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga posted a video online showing the collapse of the bridge's metal framework from high pillars into a forested valley. The incident has prompted questions about the reliability of safety procedures in such massive construction projects.

Local villagers and the government-run National Disaster Response Force both immediately began rescue operations. 

According to the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), the incident occurred during construction of the Bhairabi-Sairang New Line Railway Project, which is designed to improve Mizoram's access to the rest of India and its tourism and commercial opportunities.

So far, eighteen bodies have been retrieved from the rubble, and greater efforts are being made to find another eight. The government appointed a "high-level enquiry committee" to look into the matter.

The Indian railway system, which is used by millions of people every day, has come under fire for failing to put enough emphasis on safety and for not updating its outdated infrastructure. Following a string of disasters caused by infrastructure, such as a severe rail collision in June that killed 288 people because of a signal failure, this latest tragedy comes as a shock.

As the search and rescue operation continues, the office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised that every available resource will be used to help people in need. The accident has highlighted the need for strict safety precautions in mega-projects of building all around the country.

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