Guwahati, June 18: The Silchar-Kalain National Highway bridge at Bhangarpar collapsed around 2 am on Wednesday, causing widespread disruption to road connectivity in the Barak Valley and neighboring states of Tripura and Mizoram. The bridge, which spans the Harang River, had been reopened just a month ago after undergoing repairs worth Rs 1.37 crore.

Two stone-laden trucks fell into the river as the bridge gave way, but fortunately, the incident did not claim any lives. The collapse has sparked sharp criticism, with Borkhola MLA Misbahul Islam Laskar questioning the quality of the repair work and alleging negligence on the part of the agencies involved.

The bridge’s collapse has isolated the Barak Valley, severely impacting connectivity to Tripura and Mizoram, which rely heavily on this route for essential supplies. The Silchar-Kalain highway had been serving as a crucial lifeline while the main Katigorah Gammon Bridge on NH-6 remains closed for repairs.