Tripura govt suspends Teliamura SDM, issues show-cause notice to DM over death of trucker in Khowai district

On Tuesday, a truck loaded with cement, travelling from Dharmanagar to Agartala, met with an accident on the national highway at Chakmaghat in Khowai district. The driver-cum-owner of the truck, Mihir Lal Debnath, got trapped inside the cabin after the vehicle’s front portion collapsed on him. According to eyewitnesses, Debnath cried for help, but the rescue team reached the spot hours later. And even when a team of the State Disaster Relief Force reached the spot, the iron-cutting machine failed to operate, further delaying the rescue. By the time Debnath was rescued and sent to the hospital, he was dead.

Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha had formed a three-member committee led by the revenue secretary (relief, rehabilitation, and disaster management) to investigate the incident and submit a report at the earliest.

He also announced financial assistance of Rs 6 lakh – Rs 4 lakh from the State Disaster Management Fund and Rs 2 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund – for the kin of the deceased.

Social Welfare Minister Tinku Roy and Industry and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma were scheduled to visit the house of the deceased truck driver shortly.