Agartala, 8th April 2026: The Public Works Department (PWD) of the state has clarified that reports in several newspapers and on social media claiming that a bridge over the Manu River has collapsed are completely false.
Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat, PWD Secretary Kiran Gitte stated that the department always prioritizes construction quality and public safety. Engineers regularly inspect and monitor ongoing projects to ensure standards are maintained.
The clarification comes in response to news reports regarding the bridge being constructed over the Manu River to connect Sonamura and Teliya Chhara in Kumarghat.
According to the Secretary, the bridge under construction has a total length of 140 meters and will consist of four spans. Construction has been underway for the past three years. Out of the four spans, three spans (each 35 meters long) have already been completed, while work on the middle span is still pending.
He explained that the shuttering and centering work for the remaining span had recently been completed at a preliminary stage by the construction agency. The span itself was expected to be completed within the next 2–3 months.
However, due to multiple occurrences of Kalbaishakhi storms in the region, water levels in the river rose significantly. As a result, the temporary shuttering and centering structures were damaged and eventually collapsed.
“The images being circulated in the media are actually of the damaged temporary structures—not the bridge itself,” Gitte clarified. “The bridge has not collapsed.”He further urged the public not to be misled by inaccurate reports, noting that the state is currently undertaking the construction of more than 50 bridges across various roads and rail tracks.
Senior officials, including Chief Engineer (Roads & Bridges) Rajib Majumdar, were also present at the press conference.
The department has appealed to citizens and media outlets to verify facts before spreading such news, as misinformation could create unnecessary panic among the public.
