AGARTALA: The Tripura government has ordered a high-level inquiry into the tragic death of a lorry driver, Mihir Lal Debnath, in Khowai district, following a prolonged and ultimately failed rescue operation. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, has sent shockwaves across the state and raised serious questions about the efficiency of local emergency services.
Chief Minister Manik Saha took to social media platform X to announce the probe, stating, “A probe has been initiated in connection with the unfortunate incident at Teliamura where a driver tragically lost his life following a mishap.” Debnath was trapped inside the cabin of his cement-laden lorry after the vehicle veered off the road and hit a tree at Chakmaghat. Witnesses claim that despite a lengthy effort, the rescue team was unable to extricate him in time.
A video circulating on social media, which has since gone viral, shows a person alleging that some of the machinery brought to the site for the rescue operation was non-functional. This claim of potential negligence has fueled public outrage and prompted the Chief Minister to act swiftly. “The concerned authorities have been directed to submit a detailed report at the earliest. Appropriate action will be taken if any negligence is found on the part of any individual,” Saha wrote, assuring citizens that accountability will be fixed. The incident has cast a shadow over the state’s disaster management protocols and the readiness of its rescue infrastructure.