The Tripura government Wednesday suspended the sub-divisional magistrate of Teliamura and served a show-cause notice to the district magistrate of Khowai following the alleged delay in the rescue of a truck driver who succumbed to his injuries sustained in an accident.
J Datta, Under-Secretary, Tripura Government, signed a notification that reads, “…a disciplinary proceeding against Shri Parimal Majumder, TCS Gr-I, SDM, Teliamura and CEO, Teliamura Municipal Council is contemplated… the competent authority in exercise of the powers conferred by Sub-Rule (1) of Rule-10 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1965, has decided to place the said Shri Parimal Majumder, TCS Gr-I, SDM, Teliamura and CEO, Teliamura Municipal Council under suspension with immediate effect.”
On Tuesday, a truck loaded with cement, travelling from Dharmanagar to Agartala, met with an accident on the national highway at Chakmaghat in Khowai district. The driver-cum-owner of the truck, Mihir Lal Debnath, got trapped inside the cabin after the vehicle’s front portion collapsed on him. According to eyewitnesses, Debnath cried for help, but the rescue team reached the spot hours later. And even when a team of the State Disaster Relief Force reached the spot, the iron-cutting machine failed to operate, further delaying the rescue. By the time Debnath was rescued and sent to the hospital, he was dead.
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha had formed a three-member committee led by the revenue secretary (relief, rehabilitation, and disaster management) to investigate the incident and submit a report at the earliest.
He also announced financial assistance of Rs 6 lakh – Rs 4 lakh from the State Disaster Management Fund and Rs 2 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund – for the kin of the deceased.
Social Welfare Minister Tinku Roy and Industry and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma were scheduled to visit the house of the deceased truck driver shortly.
