In a swift response to the tragic death of a truck driver following a road accident in Tripura, the state government todayhas suspended a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), issued a show-cause notice to the District Magistrate (DM) of Khowai, and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 6 lakh for the deceased’s family.

The incident occurred during the early hours of August 4 at Chakmaghat in Khowai district when a cement-laden truck veered off the road and crashed into a tree. The driver, Mihir Lal Debnath—a resident of Kanchanpur in North Tripura—was trapped inside the mangled cabin for nearly six hours. 

Despite the efforts of disaster management personnel, malfunctioning rescue equipment allegedly delayed the operation, ultimately resulting in Debnath’s death.

Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, addressing the matter, said the state has initiated stringent action.

 “A three-member inquiry committee has been constituted under the Secretary of Revenue (Relief, Rehabilitation, and Disaster Management) to probe the incident,” Dr. Saha stated.

He added that the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Teliamura has been suspended with immediate effect, while a show-cause notice has been served to the Khowai District Magistrate.

Further, the Chief Minister announced that financial assistance of Rs 6 lakh has been sanctioned for the victim’s family—Rs 4 lakh from the State Disaster Management Fund and Rs 2 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

As a mark of solidarity, Social Welfare & Social Education Minister Tinku Roy and Industry & Commerce Minister Santana Chakma are scheduled to visit the bereaved family.

 “We are committed to ensuring accountability and maintaining public trust in the government’s systems,” said Dr. Saha.

The government’s response comes amid public outrage and growing concerns over the preparedness and efficiency of the state's disaster response machinery.