A trucker died after allegedly being trapped inside his vehicle for over five hours following an accident on the national highway at Teliamura in Tripura’s Khowai district on Tuesday. The Government has started an inquiry and taken action against the subdivisional magistrate and the district collector in connection with the incident.
According to witnesses, the front portion of a cement-laden truck that was travelling from Dharmanagar to Agartala collapsed on its driver, Mihir Lal Debnath, who was also the vehicle’s owner, in the accident. Debnath cried for help, but a rescue team arrived at the spot hours later, and their iron-cutting machine allegedly failed to operate, further delaying rescue operations. When the officials and others finally pulled him out of the truck’s cabin and sent him to a local hospital, the doctors there declared him dead.
On Wednesday evening, Chief Minister Manik Saha, who also holds the home portfolio, announced on social media that the Government had suspended the Teliamura subdivisional magistrate with immediate effect and issued a showcause notice to the Khowai district magistrate and collector.
A three-member committee headed by the secretary (relief rehabilitation and disaster management) of the revenue department is investigating the tragic incident, he added.
Earlier, he wrote on Facebook on Tuesday, “A probe has been initiated in connection with the unfortunate incident at Teliamura, where a driver tragically lost his life following a mishap. The concerned authorities have been directed to submit a detailed report at the earliest. Appropriate action will be taken if any negligence is found on the part of any individual or authority.”
The Government also announced financial assistance of Rs 6 lakh–Rs 4 lakh from the disaster management fund and Rs 2 lakh from the Chief Ministers’ Relief Fund–for Mihir Lal Debnath’s family.
“….We remain firmly committed to justice and to upholding the people’s faith in our government,” the chief minister said.
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Social Welfare and Social Education Minister Tinku Roy and Industry and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma are expected to visit Debnath’s home, according to officials.
