A day after the collapse of the under-construction Farakka bridge in Malda district, sparking a tragic incident resulting in the death of two men, a political dispute unfolded on Monday involving the Trinamool Congress, Congress, and BJP.
Both the TMC and Congress pointed fingers at the Central government and its agencies for the catastrophe, which occurred when a girder of the bridge collapsed in the Baishnabnagar area on Sunday night. The victims included an engineer from Andhra Pradesh and a construction worker, with seven others sustaining injuries. Three of the injured were in critical condition, two receiving treatment in Kolkata and one in Malda.
Local TMC leader Krishnendu Narayan Chowdhury alleged irregularities by contractors and mentioned the exchange of “cut money,” referring to bribes sought by officials or political leaders in exchange for government benefits.
Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, called for a thorough investigation and appropriate compensation for the victims’ families. After meeting Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Sunday, Chowdhury emphasized the need to identify those responsible for any lapses in the bridge construction and ensure legal consequences. The minister assured a proper investigation and compensation for the affected families.
Malda BJP MP Khagen Murmu asserted that those responsible for the lapse would not escape accountability, emphasizing the need to identify and hold them accountable.
Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh urged the Centre to examine the incident and take action against the contractors involved. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had assigned contracts to various agencies for the construction of the 1.5-km bridge over the Ganga, parallel to National Highway 34. Construction began in January 2019, with the aim of completion by the end of the year.
The deceased were identified as engineer Srinivas Rao from Andhra Pradesh and Sachin Pratap, a construction worker from Delhi. Five of the injured were admitted to Malda Medical College and Hospital, while the remaining were taken to a hospital in Kolkata.
