PWD Secretary Clarifies Kumarghat Bridge Incident: Structure Intact, Only Centering Collapsed Due to Heavy Water Flow: Kiran Gitte

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, April 8, 2026

Amid widespread reports claiming that a bridge had collapsed in Kumarghat, Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary Kiran Gitte on Wednesday evening clarified that the bridge structure remains intact and only a portion of the centering (shuttering) gave way due to heavy water flow caused by continuous rainfall.

Addressing a press conference, the PWD Secretary stated that the incident occurred on the under-construction bridge over the Manu River, located on the road connecting Sonaimuri to Teliya Chhara village in Unakoti district. He emphasized that reports suggesting a complete bridge collapse are incorrect and misleading.

According to Gitte, out of the four spans of the bridge, three have already been completed over the past three years and are structurally sound. The incident involved only the centering of the remaining under-construction span, which collapsed due to excessive water pressure from recent rains. He assured that there has been no damage to the completed portions of the bridge.

“The contractor agency will reconstruct the damaged centering at its own cost,” Gitte added, reaffirming that the quality of the completed work meets required standards.

Following reports of the incident, senior Congress leader and MLA Sudip Roy Barman visited the site along with other party members. He alleged that the collapse of the under-construction portion was due to substandard construction practices.

Roy Barman stated that the Rs.6 crore bridge project began in 2017 but faced delays after a change of contractor following the change in government in 2018. He further alleged that contractors are often compelled to pay commissions to local political figures, which affects construction quality.

“If 20–30% of the project cost goes into commissions, contractors are forced to compromise on materials like rods, cement, and sand to recover their losses,” he said.

He also raised concerns over alleged lapses in supervision, claiming that those responsible for monitoring construction sometimes overlook defects due to vested interests. According to him, such practices lead to infrastructure failing prematurely, posing risks to public safety.

“Corruption is not just a financial issue, it directly endangers human lives. When personal gains take priority over public infrastructure, ordinary people are the ones who suffer,” Roy Barman added.

Current Status

Officials have reiterated that the bridge is still under construction and that necessary corrective measures will be taken promptly. The administration has assured that safety and quality standards will be maintained during the reconstruction of the affected portion.

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