4 killed, 33 hurt in Behiang mishap

Lamka, May 30: In yet another disastrous road mi- shap along the Tiddim Road stretch of Singhat and Behiang four passengers have been killed and thirty three others injured when the bus in which they were travelling in fell into a stream near Sialsi under Singngat sub-division at around 2 pm today.

Swiftly responding to the situation, troops of 57 Mountain Division at Behiang post of 9 Assam Rifles rushed to the site and helped the passengers out of the ill-fated bus.

While the injured passengers were being evacuated to Singhat after providing first aid at Behiang post, two more succumbed to their injuries thus increasing the toll to four fatal casualties. As per the last report, all the injured passengers along with the deceased were brought to Singhat, the PRO informed.

On January 17 this year, an overloaded truck with about 70 passengers met a devastating accident due to a dilapidated bridge over Ngasuonlui. Twenty people lost their lives, and more than 33 were injured, some crippled for life and some yet to recuperate even to this day.

According to eye witnesses, today’s mishap occurred near the cemetery of Behiang, the border village which is located about 55 kms from here.

Identifying two of the victims as Mangmuanhang (25) of Tonjang and Hangdoumang (34) of Suangphahmun, an elder of Tonjang village Kamminthang said that at least twenty five other passen-gers were injured, twenty of them seriously. He, however, could not identify the third victim.

‘All I know is that he belonged to Panglian village’, Kamninthang said.

As to the improvement that could be seen along the road stretch after the January 17 mishap, Sianzathang of Tonjang said pucca road has now come up till Bualkot village, half way to Behiang.

However, the remaining part of the road is yet to see any positive changes or development. In fact, the Ngasuan bridge and another over Tuivai river are presently being revamped by the Department concerned.

According to the attendant at the ticket counter of the ill-fated passenger bus bearing with registration number MN 02/ 7293 belongs to one Chandrashekhar, a non-local scrap-dealer and the driver is Lialian.

A team of para-medics from the State Health Department accompanied by 2nd OC of Singngat Police Station Zuala have rushed in to the spot to aid the injured.

Before returning, they are expected to conduct post-mortem on the deceased and investigate into the circumstances leading to the mishap.

It is believed that failure to negotiate a curve road due to the vehicle’s high-speed may be the behind the tragedy.

Source: http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/News_pages/Local_page-02.html