Congress blames BJP’s ‘syndicate nexus’ for bridge collapse, Barak Valley’s cut-off

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 19, 2025

The collapse of the Harang River bridge in Assam’s Barak Valley has triggered a sharp political backlash, with the Congress on Thursday accusing the BJP-led state government of turning a blind eye to a thriving syndicate network that has undermined infrastructure and cut off the region from the rest of the state.

Speaking at a press conference at Rajiv Bhawan, senior Congress leader and advocate Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury alleged that widespread corruption and unchecked syndicates involved in coal, limestone, betel nut, and cattle transport were behind the bridge collapse. He said overloaded trucks, operating with impunity, were damaging roads and bridges across Assam, particularly in Barak Valley.

The Harang bridge on the Silchar-Kalain road, which had reopened just a month ago after repairs costing Rs 1.3 crore, gave way around 1:30 am on Wednesday as two overloaded trucks attempted to cross. Both vehicles plunged into the Harang River, and the region was immediately cut off from a vital transport link.

Choudhury said the collapse was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of neglect, driven by syndicate money and administrative complicity. He accused the government of ignoring Barak Valley’s developmental needs while prioritizing profit-driven networks. He also criticized Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for making communal and divisive remarks, instead of addressing urgent infrastructure issues.

Listing a range of grievances, Choudhury highlighted the shutdown of the region’s paper and sugar mills, the absence of veterinary hospitals despite cattle being culturally important, and the removal of two assembly constituencies during the recent delimitation process. He said the mini-secretariat promised for the valley had also not materialized, further reflecting the government’s apathy.

Choudhury warned that the Congress would soon launch a mass protest in Barak Valley with participation from all communities to demand accountability and immediate action. Referring to a past remark by the Chief Minister that “Barak can be separated if its people want,” Choudhury said the present neglect suggested that such a separation was being quietly facilitated. He noted that the only remaining road link through Harang to Haflong was a broken 30-kilometre stretch, unfit for travel. He claimed that patients had died en route to Guwahati due to the condition of the roads.

Backing the charges, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) media cell chairman Bedabrata Bora said the Harang bridge collapse exposed deep-rooted corruption in the Public Works Department under the Chief Minister’s supervision. He demanded that the government publish a white paper on the structural health of all newly constructed bridges across the state.

Bora also listed a series of bridge failures under the BJP’s tenure, including the hanging bridge over the Singla River, a flood-damaged bridge in Kumarikata in Tamulpur, and wooden bridges in Mankachar and Charaideo. He said overloading allowed by syndicates, combined with poor monitoring, had turned these structures into hazards for public safety.

The press briefing was also attended by senior Congress leader Mehdi Alam Bora and APCC spokesperson Baranali Phukan.