SILIGURI, 29 FEB: Just ahead of chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s visit to the Darjeeling Hills, the state public works department (PWD) has sanctioned Rs 91 lakh for the reconstruction of a wooden suspension walkway over the Little Rangit River at Bijanbari in Darjeeling.
The footbridge, which connected Bijanbari town and Chungthungtar, collapsed on 22 October, the last day of a five-day cultural festival organised by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha. Hundreds of people were on the bridge when it failed; 32 died, and more than 110 were injured.
The chief minister rushed to meet the injured patients and relatives of the deceased at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital and Darjeeling district hospital on 23 October. But she did not visit the village and the spot where the bridge collapsed.
The anti-GJMM political parties have criticised the chief minister for not investigating the Bijanbari tragedy. Since the accident, residents have built a temporary walkway to cross over the river Little Rangit.
Residents of the Bijanbari area noticed yesterday that a bulldozer was clearing the debris of the collapsed bridge. Though locals asked the contractor what was going on, he did not give a clear answer. A senior administrative officer associated with the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, however, was able to explain, saying: "The state government has sanctioned adequate funds for the reconstruction of the bridge over the Little Rangit at Bijanbari. The PWD Darjeeling division has been asked to begin construction immediately." PWD Darjeeling division executive engineer Dinesh Pradhan refused to divulge details of the plan for the bridge. "I am busy today," he said. "I have become preoccupied with CM’s current visit. The state government has sanctioned Rs 91 lakh for the construction of the bridge."
The footbridge, which connected Bijanbari town and Chungthungtar, collapsed on 22 October, the last day of a five-day cultural festival organised by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha. Hundreds of people were on the bridge when it failed; 32 died, and more than 110 were injured.
The chief minister rushed to meet the injured patients and relatives of the deceased at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital and Darjeeling district hospital on 23 October. But she did not visit the village and the spot where the bridge collapsed.
The anti-GJMM political parties have criticised the chief minister for not investigating the Bijanbari tragedy. Since the accident, residents have built a temporary walkway to cross over the river Little Rangit.
Residents of the Bijanbari area noticed yesterday that a bulldozer was clearing the debris of the collapsed bridge. Though locals asked the contractor what was going on, he did not give a clear answer. A senior administrative officer associated with the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, however, was able to explain, saying: "The state government has sanctioned adequate funds for the reconstruction of the bridge over the Little Rangit at Bijanbari. The PWD Darjeeling division has been asked to begin construction immediately." PWD Darjeeling division executive engineer Dinesh Pradhan refused to divulge details of the plan for the bridge. "I am busy today," he said. "I have become preoccupied with CM’s current visit. The state government has sanctioned Rs 91 lakh for the construction of the bridge."
statesman news service
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