Published Date: October 25, 2011
Festivities turned into mourning as a bridge collapsed killing 34 and leaving 132 injured in the mountainous hamlet of Bijanbari, 30 kilometers from Darjeeling, on the eve of a festival season.
The old wooden footbridge over Little Rangeet river in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, gave way under the pressure of a crowd on October 22.
Over 300 people sang and danced on the bridge, weakened by the September 18 earthquake, ignoring warnings, said Jesuit Father Peter Bhujal who works in the area.
People were attending a cultural program organized by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Gorkha people’s liberation front), the main political party in the area.
Father Bhujal, who lives close to the accident site, said the Church’s help was not required as the government provided timely medical care and rescue operations.
The accident has dampened the festive mood among ethnic Nepalis living in the area, who are celebrating Tihar, Nepal’s second biggest festival, he said.
Fr Valentine Rai, director of Darjeeling diocese’s social works, said the government is doing a lot for the victims of the accident, and therefore there was no scope for the Church to be involved.
The bridge was not properly maintained by the local administration, and it was human error that led to the accident, Fr Rai said.
Source: ucanews.com
The old wooden footbridge over Little Rangeet river in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, gave way under the pressure of a crowd on October 22.
Over 300 people sang and danced on the bridge, weakened by the September 18 earthquake, ignoring warnings, said Jesuit Father Peter Bhujal who works in the area.
People were attending a cultural program organized by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Gorkha people’s liberation front), the main political party in the area.
Father Bhujal, who lives close to the accident site, said the Church’s help was not required as the government provided timely medical care and rescue operations.
The accident has dampened the festive mood among ethnic Nepalis living in the area, who are celebrating Tihar, Nepal’s second biggest festival, he said.
Fr Valentine Rai, director of Darjeeling diocese’s social works, said the government is doing a lot for the victims of the accident, and therefore there was no scope for the Church to be involved.
The bridge was not properly maintained by the local administration, and it was human error that led to the accident, Fr Rai said.
Source: ucanews.com