Teliamura, August 5: A tragic accident at Chakmaghat under Teliamura police station has once again exposed the alarming inefficiency and unpreparedness of Tripura’s Disaster Management Department and the local subdivision administration, despite crores of rupees being spent from the state exchequer for emergency response systems.
Around 2:30 AM on Sunday night, a cement-laden lorry en route from Dharmanagar to Agartala met with a severe accident on the national highway in Chakmaghat. The driver, Mihir Lal Debnath, a resident of Kanchanpur and son of Makhanlal Debnath, was also the owner of the vehicle. Following the crash, the front of the truck collapsed inward, pinning the driver tightly inside the cabin.
Eyewitnesses report that Debnath remained conscious and repeatedly pleaded for help, desperately asking to be rescued. However, despite hundreds of locals witnessing the situation, it took nearly seven to eight hours for any meaningful rescue attempt to begin. The Disaster Management Department and Fire Services, though funded and equipped by the government, failed to bring functional rescue tools or sufficient manpower. A few department personnel reportedly arrived with an iron cutter, which was non-functional.
Shockingly, a senior official (DCM) reached the spot nearly seven hours after the accident. By that time, Debnath had succumbed to his injuries. The rescue team eventually recovered his lifeless body around 9:40 AM and transported it to Teliamura Sub-Divisional Hospital.
Local residents have condemned the administration’s negligence, calling the response inhumane and unacceptable. Many have demanded accountability, questioning the effectiveness of repeated training and investment in disaster preparedness when the system collapses during real emergencies.
Meanwhile, members of TSR 12th Battalion have been praised for extending support during the crisis, showcasing commitment even in the absence of proper leadership or tools.
