The place of Wednesday's tragic school bus accident on the Tongjil Maril Road at Longsai village area in Noney district is an accident-prone zone and the state government failed to repair the road despite several complaints made, the chief of Longsai village, Kabidon Gonmei said.
Speaking to the media at the Manipur Press Club in Imphal, Kabidon alleged that the government has been neglecting the construction of the 5–6-kilometre downhill road stretch of Laimaton to Leimatak, which has caused several similar accidents in the past.
Watch: Reports From The Spot , Khoupum| Imphal Free Press
Four labourers from Imphal and a water supply worker from the village died in a similar accident that occurred at the said stretch of road, he said.
Despite the villagers' request to the state government for repairing the road, the government remained a mute spectator, he added, as he condoled the demise and extended prayer for speedy recovery of the injured students.
“We submitted letters to the chief minister last year, and also in July this year. But we have not seen any development despite the promises made before the 2022 election,” he said.
Watch: Road mishap in Khoupum | Imphal Free Press
Replying to a query raised by the media on the allegation during an interaction which was also attended by the chief minister at his secretariat, Works Minister Govindas Konthoujam refuted the allegation. He clarified that the blacktopping of the road stretch was in good condition, the issue is the sharp corner.
As the road excavation works and other processes requires, certain survey and process, it takes time for the work, he said, adding that the chief minister himself is also aware about the sharp corner.
Watch: Tongjei Maril Road in Manipur
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