Churachandpur: A Bailey bridge over the Tuivai River between Sinzawl and Khuanggin villages on NH-102B, commonly known as Guite Road, collapsed around 10:30 pm on Thursday, severing a key supply route for essential commodities to Churachandpur and other hill districts in Manipur.
Incident Details
The Guite Road Chiefs’ Association (GRCA) reported that the bridge gave way when two cement-laden trucks belonging to a road construction firm under the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) were crossing and had reached near the middle span.
Guite Road serves as a primary link between Churachandpur and Aizawl, facilitating daily movement of essentials routed from Silchar, Assam, and other locations via Mizoram. The collapse is expected to disrupt supplies and economic activity in Manipur’s hill districts, with the route described as the only lifeline for daily essentials.
Response and Diversion
A GRCA source expressed deep concern over the development and stated that the association is trying every possible means to restore the bridge. Authorities have been alerted and steps initiated to reinstall the bridge on a war footing.
Traffic has been diverted via the Sinzawl–Dialkhai–Churachandpur route through NH-02. Commuters are advised to use this alternative route and follow traffic advisories issued by authorities.
Condemnation and Past Warnings
On Friday, the GRCA condemned the firm’s reckless and irresponsible conduct, noting that the association had repeatedly cautioned authorities and stakeholders about the unsafe condition of Bailey bridges on the corridor. Restrictions limiting loads to 20 metric tonnes and requiring one-by-one crossing of heavy vehicles had been in place, with a formal advisory issued by the deputy commissioner of Churachandpur on June 20, 2023, enforcing these restrictions.
NH-102B is currently the only usable route for residents of Churachandpur to travel in and out of Manipur and for essential supplies entering via Mizoram. NH-2 (Tedim Road), the traditional corridor through the Imphal Valley to Manipur’s southern hill districts, has remained cut off since ethnic clashes began on May 3, 2023. The route briefly reopened for essential items after a new ministry was formed under Yumnam Khemchand Singh but was closed again following the Tronglaobi incident in which two children were killed in a bomb blast.
Dependence on Guite Road
With NH-2 disrupted, Guite Road—though longer and costlier—has become unavoidable. Goods for Churachandpur are routed via Aizawl after being loaded in Silchar and other parts of Assam. The Churachandpur–Aizawl stretch via NH-102B is approximately 300 to 327 kilometers.
The highway is being constructed and maintained by NHIDCL. With the project incomplete, several Bailey bridges remain in use, including the Tuivai River bridge that collapsed. A similar snapping was reported in 2022, attributed to heavy-laden goods traffic.
Alternative Routes
Alternative routes remain largely impractical. The Tipaimukh Road (NH-150) linking Pherzawl to Aizawl is avoided due to longer distance, narrow carriageway, sharp curves, and frequent landslides.
