Indian railway bridge collapses, at least 26 people killed

The incident took place in the town of Sairang in the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram. Police said 26 workers were killed and two were injured.

According to local media, there were up to 40 workers at the scene at the time of the incident, but police said the number was 28.

On social media X (formerly Twitter), the North Eastern Frontier Railway (NFR) said the accident occurred during the construction of the Bhairbi-Sairang New Line Railway Project.

According to NFR, the project aims to connect the transport system between Mizoram state and the rest of the country and promote "tourism and socio -economic development".

Scene of the bridge collapse. (Photo: Sky News)

Indian authorities have now set up a high-level investigation committee to clarify the cause of the accident.

Speaking about the bridge collapse, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to provide all necessary assistance to the affected victims.

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said the accident occurred in Sairang town in Mizoram state.

India has a large and widely used rail system, and the government has launched high-speed rail projects as part of a plan to modernize the network. However, critics say India has not invested enough in safety and upgrading its aging infrastructure.

In June 2023, India recorded its worst train accident in two decades, killing at least 88 people. The accident was determined to be caused by a signal failure on the railway.

Kong Anh (Source: Reuters)

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