Silchar: At least four pedestrians were injured and five vehicles were damaged after a Bailey bridge over the Singla river collapsed in Assam’s Sribhumi district on Wednesday afternoon, snapping a key road link and sparking protests by local residents.The bridge at Anipur on the Ramkrishna Nagar–Sribhumi PWD Road gave way when two sand-laden dumpers attempted to cross at the same time. Officials said the middle portion of the bridge caved in under excessive load, sending two dumpers, two cars and a mini truck into the river.Residents and police rescued four injured pedestrians from the water and took them to Ramkrishna Nagar government Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment. No deaths were reported.The collapse has disrupted connectivity between parts of Ramkrishna Nagar and Sribhumi and Hailakandi towns, affecting commuters during the ongoing HSLC and HS examinations.Sribhumi district commissioner Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi visited the site and said the two dumpers were allegedly overloaded and engaged in Bharatmala project work, which may have contributed to the collapse. He said boats would be arranged on both sides of the Singla river for immediate movement of people and that a temporary bamboo bridge would be built until a permanent structure is constructed. He said the matter would be taken up with the minister concerned.Ratabari MLA Bijoy Malakar also visited the site as residents protested, alleging administrative apathy and claiming the bridge had been in a dilapidated condition for a long time.
