Chathe Bridge Collapse: FIRs Remain In Cold Storage - Eastern Mirror
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Nagaland

Chathe Bridge collapse: FIRs remain in cold storage

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By Mirror Desk Updated: Jan 21, 2018 12:20 am
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A notice of caution is displayed on a bridge that collapsed over the Chathe River in Dimapur, Nagaland on Jul. 12 2017. An ageing bridge over the Chathe River in Nagaland collapsed on July 11 2017 following days of heavy monsoon rain, killing four people and injuring five others. Despite two FIRs being registered, the authorities have yet to take any action. (EM File Photo)

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Jan. 20: On the evening of Jul. 11 2017, four persons including a minor boy were killed when the aged bridge over Chathe River at 4th Mile in Dimapur collapsed. In this connection two establishments namely the Acaut of Nagaland and the Diphupar Village Council had registered separate First Information Reports (FIR) with the Diphupar Police Station the same day.
Six months since the tragic tragedy, and the consequent registration of FIR, the authorities in concern are yet to act on the dual police complaints.
The investigating officer of Diphupar police station told Eastern Mirror on Sat. that the case was yet to be processed and have been stalled as per direction from the ‘higher authority.’ The officer also pointed out that the Diphupar police had filed a suo moto case in this connection, as soon as the incident had occurred.
Further details could not be obtained as the police officers involved in the case could not be reached despite repeated attempts over the days. When contacted, the Diphupar Village Council (DVC), which had also filed an FIR in connection with the case on July 2017, told Eastern Mirror that they do not know the outcome of the case.
In its FIR, the Acaut had requested the authorities to take cognizance of the tragedy against the culpable individuals and organisations namely the then minister for Roads and Bridges, the executive engineer (PWD), Dimapur division; the department of Roads and Bridges; the sand and gravel mafia including the contractors and the ‘concerned village council authorities’ for illegally allowing extraction of stones from the riverbeds. It has also demanded immediate arrest of the accused persons.
According to Eastern Mirror’s report on July 2017, the Acaut demanded that the Nagaland government pay adequate compensation to the victims’ families, set up a ‘high powered independent inquiry committee comprising members of the public to probe the collapse of the bridge,’ and the chief minister to “immediately sack the then minister for Roads and Bridges.”
The Acaut had termed the tragic and civic disaster as sheer negligence and corruption on the part of the PWD (R&B) department, the government of Nagaland, and the district administration’s failure to supervise.

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By Mirror Desk Updated: Jan 21, 2018 12:20:07 am
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