Chakmaghat,Tripura| August 5, 2025| SKY LINK TIMES
A lorry driver trapped inside his mangled vehicle died after hours of desperate rescue efforts were allegedly hampered by malfunctioning equipment from Tripura’s disaster management department.
The tragic accident occurred around 2:30 PM on Tuesday in the Chakmaghat area of Khowai district, when a cement-laden lorry veered off the road and rammed into a large roadside tree. The impact crushed the front cabin, pinning the driver—identified as Mihir Lal Debnath of Kanchanpur, North Tripura—from the waist down.
Eyewitnesses said local residents rushed to the scene and alerted authorities. A fire brigade unit reportedly arrived within half an hour and began rescue operations using basic tools. However, the extent of the damage necessitated the use of heavy-duty equipment.
The 12th Battalion of the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and the disaster management department were subsequently called in with specialized iron-cutting saws to assist. But what followed, according to multiple onlookers, turned the rescue mission into a nightmare.
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“None of the equipment worked”
“They tried to start them multiple times, but none of them were operational at such a critical time,” said one local resident who witnessed the ordeal. “The Lorry driver died right in front of us.”
Initially, Debnath was reportedly conscious and communicating with rescuers, directing them to where he was trapped. But as the hours passed, his voice weakened and eventually fell silent.
TSR official Bikram Debbarma confirmed that Debnath was still responsive when their team arrived but later ceased all movement. “It is still not clear whether he died before rescue,” Debbarma said.
An official from the fire brigade stated that their team had been attempting the rescue using smaller instruments from as early as 3 PM, and that three “expert” personnel from the disaster management department eventually arrived with the malfunctioning machines.
Public anger and calls for accountability
The alleged failure of the equipment has triggered a wave of public outrage, with many calling it a case of gross negligence.
“This is not just an accident—it’s a systems failure,” a local social activist said. “Had the equipment worked, perhaps a life could have been saved.”
No official statement has yet been issued by the disaster management department regarding the reported equipment malfunction.
The incident raises serious questions about the readiness of Tripura’s emergency response infrastructure and the reliability of its rescue equipment—especially in remote and hilly terrains where accidents often prove fatal without prompt intervention.
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