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Tripura cut off from mainland
by Pinaki Das

          Agartala (Tripura): Tripura was cut off from the rest of the country for the second day on Thursday following the collapse of a bridge. The bridge collapsed in the Malidarah area of Assam-Meghalaya border in the National Highway 44, which is considered the lifeline of Tripura. Hundreds of loaded lorries and passenger buses coming towards Tripura and Mizoram have been left stranded. Border Road Task Force (BRTF) officials stated that 166-metre long bridge over a small river collapsed due to movement of loaded vehicles. Many complained about the problems they were facing, and cursed the local highway police for the mishap. General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF) authorities have informed and the reconstruction work is going on at a fast pace. Over 450 vehicles, including lorries loaded with daily essentials and foodgrains, move out of Tripura. If the situation does not improve immediately, it might affect the price of essential goods in Tripura, which is landlocked on three sides by Bangladesh. The state has little more than 45 km of railway and is totally dependent on road conenctivity for receiving essential goods.
-May 3,  2007