Assam suspends 10 PWD engineers over bridge collapses
The suspensions follow allegations of professional negligence, substandard work, and construction irregularities in Barak Valley and Haflong.
The Assam Public Works Department (PWD) has suspended 10 engineers of various ranks on a single day due to alleged professional negligence, substandard work, and irregularities linked to multiple bridge collapses, according to reports by The Sentinel and Urban Acres.
The disciplinary action involves nine officials from various divisions in Barak Valley and one official stationed in Haflong. The suspensions include those associated with the collapse of the Harang bridge and lapses in maintaining construction standards.
Among the suspended officials are executive engineer Kallol Nath and junior engineer Joydeep Nath of the Kalgachia/Katlicherra-Borkhola division. In the Dholai-Sonai division, assistant executive engineers Piyush Choudhury and Ratul Das were suspended, while Shakil Ahmed, a superintending engineer in Haflong, was suspended over irregularities during his previous tenure as an executive engineer in the same division.
Other officials facing action include executive engineer Saibal Biswas and assistant executive engineer Subrata Das of the Patharkandi-Ramkrishna Nagar division. From the Hailakandi division, executive engineer Subhendu Das, assistant executive engineer Anamur Rahman Barbhuiya, and junior engineer Amir Hussain Choudhury were also suspended.
The allegations cited by departmental sources include inadequate monitoring, poor supervision, and failure to maintain prescribed quality standards. The department has not specified the next steps or the timeline for the disciplinary proceedings.