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As soon as the truck reached the middle of the bridge, the old structure broke with a loud bang, causing a large part of it to collapse.
Local people and passersby heard the explosion and rushed towards the spot. The driver and his assistant managed to get out safely before the vehicle completely fell into the lake below. Local authorities and police responded immediately and confirmed that no one was injured in the accident.
“After being rescued, the driver of the dumper was given emergency medical aid. There is no loss of life or property,” police said.
#Watch | West Bengal A bridge collapsed in Debnathpara area of Sitalkuchi block of Cooch Behar. No casualties have been reported. More information is awaited. pic.twitter.com/WDxvy9NYWQ
– ANI (@ANI) 31 January 2026
This bridge served as an important link for small cars, farmers, school children and daily commuters. After its collapse, people had to take long detours to reach markets, schools and work, cutting off direct road connectivity between Sitalkuchi and nearby Sitai villages. Many residents expressed their displeasure over the unexpected disturbance.
According to local people, the 25-year-old bridge was already fragile and poorly maintained. He had requested the local government for frequent repairs and a ban on heavy vehicles, but no action was taken. Locals attribute this decline to inadequate maintenance and enforcement.
Moreover, the bridge collapse has led to a political conflict between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP. “This bridge in Sitalkuchi, Cooch Behar is a symbol of what the ‘cut money’ culture under Mamata Banerjee has done to West Bengal,” BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya wrote on
Malviya said, “Public funds were misused, shoddy construction, zero accountability and common people were left to risk their lives every day. This is not development. This represents corruption-driven degradation.”
This bridge in Sitalkuchi, Cooch Behar is a symbol of what the ‘cut money’ culture under Mamata Banerjee has done to West Bengal.
Public funds were misappropriated, shoddy construction took place, there was zero accountability and common people were left to risk their lives every day.
This is not… pic.twitter.com/WhYSG5nRbP
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) 30 January 2026
Responding to Malviya, TMC leader Debangshu Bhattacharya Dev asked, “How can TMC get ‘cut money’ from the bridge built during the Left rule?”
The collapse has also drawn attention to infrastructure and road safety issues in rural areas of West Bengal. After criticizing the slow pace of the repair work, some political personalities asked the state Public Works Department (PWD) to take prompt action.
According to officials, they will remove debris, evaluate structural collapse, and install a temporary crossing or complete bridge restoration as soon as possible. Till then people will face difficulty in traveling daily.