Agartala, August 09, 2025: Tripura’s Khowai district witnessed high-level scrutiny today as a three-member delegation visited Chakmaghat to investigate the tragic death of lorry driver Mihirlal Debnath. The team comprised Revenue Secretary Brijesh Pandey, IG (Law and Order) Manchak Ipper and Fire Service & Disaster Management Secretary LT Darling. Khowai District Magistrate Rajat Pant and newly appointed Teliamura SDM Abedananda Baidya were also present during the inspection. 

The delegation examined the accident site and spoke extensively to local residents, especially those who first arrived at the scene. They later held separate discussions with TSR personnel, police officers, medical staff, and fire service officials involved in the rescue operation. 

According to the findings so far, no direct negligence has been attributed to the SDM. “No one had informed the SDM about the incident until after 8:30 p.m. Upon receiving the information from Teliamura OC, the SDM immediately notified all DCMs, following which officers Biswajit Debbarma and Haripada Sarkar rushed to the spot,” officials clarified.

However, allegations of dereliction of duty have emerged against Fire Service OC Binoy Chakraborty. Eyewitnesses claimed he was not at the station during the incident and had left for Udaipur without official leave. “Even when the fire service team reached earlier, Chakraborty arrived the next morning around 8:30 a.m. from Udaipur on a bike,” a witness told the investigators. A local woman further alleged that he obstructed the work of TSR and Apada Mitra volunteers. 

The investigation also revealed challenges in the rescue. Since the incident took place late at night and rescue teams lacked adequate equipment, it took considerable time to free the driver, who was trapped waist-deep. “The prolonged compression stopped blood circulation. When a gap was finally made, the sudden rush of blood caused bleeding from his nose and mouth,” a doctor explained, attributing the death to high blood pressure. 

Calling the incident “deeply tragic,” the delegation confirmed that further inquiry will continue. “We have taken everyone’s statements, but this is not the end of the investigation,” they stated declining to share more details at present.