CM Dr. Manik Saha Orders Probe into Teliamura Chakmaghat Tragedy: Promises Action Against Negligence in Driver’s Death
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, August 6, 2025
Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha has expressed deep concern over the tragic death of truck driver Mihir Lal Debnath, who remained trapped for over seven hours following a devastating road accident near Chakmaghat under Teliamura subdivision in Khowai district. Speaking to the media and issuing an official statement, Dr. Saha confirmed that a formal probe has been initiated to investigate the sequence of events and determine if there was any lapse or negligence in the response by concerned departments.
The Chief Minister stated:"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 incident occurred in the early hours of August 5, around 2:30 AM, when a Dharmanagar bound cement truck overturned on the National Highway at Chakmaghat. The driver, Mihir Lal Debnath, who was also the owner of the vehicle and a resident of Kanchanpur was severely injured and trapped inside the mangled vehicle’s cabin. Despite the presence of the fire service, disaster management teams, and police, the absence of basic rescue equipment like an iron cutter meant that the injured driver remained stuck for hours while pleading for help.
It was only around 9:40 AM that his lifeless body was recovered, after succumbing to injuries while awaiting rescue. The delay in response and the reported absence of senior district-level officers on-site for several hours have led to widespread public anger and social media outrage.
Dr. Saha emphasized that accountability will be ensured and strict action will follow if it is found that any department or individual failed in their duty during this emergency. He further mentioned that the state government is committed to strengthening disaster response mechanisms, particularly along accident-prone highways and remote stretches of National Highways.
Sources in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) indicated that the District Magistrate of Khowai, the Superintendent of Police, and the Director of Fire and Emergency Services have been instructed to furnish written reports with timelines, personnel deployment details, and equipment status on the day of the accident.
While public outrage continues to mount, civil society groups and local residents have welcomed the Chief Minister's prompt response and demand that the probe be time-bound, transparent, and result-oriented.
As the state awaits the findings of the probe, the incident has already sparked a larger debate about emergency preparedness, disaster infrastructure, and the need for accountability at all administrative levels in Tripura.
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