Teliamura, August 5, 2025: Despite spending lakhs of rupees from the state exchequer in the name of disaster preparedness, the Disaster Management Department in Tripura has once again come under heavy criticism for failing to respond effectively in a real crisis. A tragic example unfolded in the Chakmaghat area under Teliamura police station, where a truck driver died in front of hundreds of helpless onlookers after being trapped in his vehicle for over seven hours.
The incident occurred around 2:30 AM on Monday when a cement-laden truck en route from Dharmanagar to Agartala met with an accident on National Highway near Chakmaghat. The impact caused the front section of the vehicle to collapse, pinning the driver inside the cabin.
The victim, Mihir Lal Debnath, son of Makhanlal Debnath of Kanchanpur, was both the owner and driver of the ill-fated vehicle. Severely injured and trapped, he pleaded for help throughout the night in a desperate attempt to survive. Eyewitnesses say he repeatedly cried out to be rescued but received no timely aid from the authorities.
Shockingly, despite repeated calls and the availability of a dedicated Disaster Management Department, no effective rescue operation was mounted for over seven hours. Only two or three personnel from the department arrived with an iron-cutting tool, which reportedly malfunctioned. A DCM (Disaster Control Mechanism) official reached the site almost seven hours after the crash.
Local residents expressed strong resentment and anger toward the sub-divisional administration of Teliamura, accusing them of gross negligence and failure to act during a life-and-death situation.
According to the latest reports, the driver’s lifeless body was eventually retrieved at around 9:40 AM, and later transported to Teliamura Sub-Divisional Hospital, where officials reportedly “fulfilled their duty” with the handover.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious questions about the efficiency of disaster preparedness in the state. Despite claims of training and readiness on paper, the department’s ground-level execution has once again proved inadequate in the face of real-life emergencies.
Notably, amidst the administrative failure, personnel from TSR’s 12th Battalion reportedly extended commendable support within their limited capacity, earning appreciation from locals.
