-after New Providence bridge collapses
Volunteers spend two hours freeing trapped man
By Melissa Charles
A Friendship man was killed and his colleague seriously injured after the only access bridge to New Providence, East Bank Demerara collapsed sending the ‘Ready Mix Cement’ truck they were in overboard.
Rescuers trying feverishly yesterday to extricate the injured man from the truck. (Jules Gibson photo)
Dead is Ramesh Ramratan of 38 Church Street, Friend-ship, East Bank while Imran Hassan of 80 BB Eccles was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital and was treated for burns, which he sustained from a blow torch used during his rescue, among other injuries.
Dead: Ramesh Ramratan
Dozens of volunteers fought for almost two hours to rescue the men who were pinned under the truck which belongs to Toolsie Persaud Limited (TPL) and which weighed a total of 20 tonnes with the cement mix it was carrying. A sign next to the bridge had stated that the structure could take only 5 tonnes.
And while the Neighbour-hood Democratic Council overseer said that the sign was there up to Sunday residents charged that it was removed a long time ago.
According to an eyewitness who had crossed the bridge seconds before it collapsed, the truck had almost cleared the bridge when the side of the structure that was considered the weaker section collapsed, sending the truck overboard. He said that he heard screams for help but when he and other persons went to the rescue they saw that the men were pinned under the massive truck. Within minutes a crowd was drawn to the scene including workmen from the construction site at Frank Rajpaul, a resident in the area where the cement was headed.
Moneshwar Kaso, supervisor at TPL at Providence Ready Mix Department said that they received a call about the incident and he immediately rounded up a crew to send out.
A length of chain was attached to the cab of the truck and hooked up to a front end loader which was dispatched to the scene. At this time it was already established that Ramratan had died.
Imran Hassan trapped under the truck as rescuers tried to free him. (Jules Gibson photo)
The rescuers fought for more than an hour, without any success as the ‘loader’ tried in vain to pull up the truck. Many persons were heard lamenting the fact that a crane was needed to effectively lift the truck and as the minutes ticked away many wondered whether the second man was going to come out alive. Other persons in the large crowd were heard exclaiming with disbelief at the absence of the fire service which they believed should be equipped to handle such situations. A fire truck did arrive – some 10 minutes after both men were removed from under the truck.
Residents were also vocal about the lack of necessary equipment to deal with an emergency situation on the part of TPL and the authorities.
At around midday one of the cab doors was removed after being repeatedly torched, but Hassan could still not be removed since the truck itself was pinning his lower body.
Rope was attached to a truck which was at the other side of the bridge, and the cab was tugged at from both directions. Hassan was then pulled out to loud applause from the large crowd which had gathered. He was sped away to the Georgetown Hospital in an ambulance that was on standby.
Rescuers trying to lift Imran Hassan out from under the truck. The chain visible in the photo is attached to the front end loader which pulled at the truck to afford the men space in which to work. (Jules Gibson photo)
When Stabroek News visited the Ramratan residence grieving relatives had already gathered and were mourning their loss. Most heart-rending were the loud wails coming from the man’s 9-year-old daughter. Screaming for her father, the child cuddled in the arms of her mother who was also inconsolable. The woman tearfully recounted that she had spoken to her husband around 10:30 yesterday morning when he called to ask if she had eaten. “I tell him yes, ow meh husband never mek accident yet, how much years he driving,” Vidya Ramratan lamented.
Meanwhile residents of New Providence who use the bridge have told this newspaper that they had approached the Ministry of Public Works in relation to the rebuilding of the bridge, sometime back. They said that an arrangement was made for them to raise some of the money and the ministry had promised to provide the rest. One resident said that when they went back to the minister he informed them that he was dealing with Carifesta, and the bridge was not a priority now. Minister Robeson Benn later told Stabroek News that this is “absolutely not true.” The minister who visited the accident scene yesterday afternoon said that the bridge is in the jurisdiction of the NDC but that he had told residents when they had approached him sometime earlier this year that his ministry would try to raise the money at some point. He said that he had emphasized however that the bridge had not been a part of the money allocated to public works in the national budget and as such it would take some doing to gather the sum.
Public-spirited citizens lifting Imran Hassan to the ambulance after he was freed from under the truck after a rescue operation that lasted two hours. (Jules Gibson photo)
The minister who said that the incident is “regrettable and unfortunate,” added that the preliminary estimate for the bridge was placed at some $8 million.
He said further that discussions were held on the matter up to last week and it is unfortunate that persons chose not to adhere to the weight limit for the bridge.
He added also that it is his hope that people would use this as an example and exercise due care and diligence in similar situations. He added that construction companies should show caution and check the infrastructure their heavy vehicles have to traverse.
The New Providence residents are now forced to park their vehicles on the Mocha access road since the bridge was the sole entry point to their community. The NDC overseer has said that lights will be placed in the area to afford security and the Lions Club compound at the head of the Mocha access road will also be available for parking.
The trend in Guyana for many years is window dressing on the main road ways just go beyond to cummunities in land then we will see neglect on a large scale that is just one example, a man had to loose his life for The Minister to understand the scale of the problem and the plight of the people about 500 feet beyond the stadium . The NDC have no voice in that area just look at the side of the road it is full of bushes until a wild animal attacks or large snake kills someone then they will wake up .
Signs, signs, signs, thats’s what we are missing on Guyana’s roads – and even though we may have a few, motorist still does not obey them. By the looks of that bridge, the driver should have estimated he couldn’t make it safely across. One rule for driving trucks is if you can’t make it safely (under an overpass or across a bridge) …find an alternate route.
Sorry to hear that the driver had to die in this accident, may he Rest In Peace.
On a positive note, it’s really nice to see how our Guyanese brethren can come together and help out in an emergency.
mackydog…this is perhaps the best comment you have made in a long long time, that is, quote,
“On a positive note, it’s really nice to see how our Guyanese brethren can come together and help out in an emergency.’
Well? Yuh will kum together ‘an give ahwe more positive comments?
Ah waiting pun yuh.
My condolonces to the family of the deceased.In future there should be some permanent sign advertising the weight treshhold of similar structures.All potiental users should be aware what mass can safely traverse same.Periodic inspections should also be scheduled as due dilligence,by all responsible parties.
People in high places at Ministry of Public Works need to be held accountable and an investigation need to be launched. Obviously the list of bridges that need renovating was not placed as a priority in last year’s budget. I hope it is in the November estimates and also the residence do not need to “raise any money ” to help the government repair the bridge. They pay taxes.
Further more, is any maintenance work done to bridges at all, main bridges like this? And where are the records. These should be made available to the investigative team and the media.
Once again the tax payers may have to pay the victim’s relatives for a catasthrophy that could have been avoided. I hope these men are insured by TPL.
Sure blame the Ministry of Public Works. Did it occur to you had the driver exercised good judgement he would’ve been alive today. For crying out loud he was driving a commercial vehicle across a bridge, that wasn’t built to accomodate that much weight. LOOK at the picture; the bridge was constructed with wooden planks, do you need a sign to warn you it’s unsafe carrying 20 tons of weight?
Imran has to be very thankful for those very caring unrelenting citizens.
This is total worthlessness on the part of Government and the Municipality NO Bridge nor Road should have to reach this stage of disrepair, what is happening to all the VAT that is being collected and the taxes that are being paid by Guyanese?? The families of both the deceased and survivor should file law suits against the appropriate authorities and seek the maximum compensation possible. It is time that the Ministry of Public works ensure that the relevant personel is employed to conduct checks on infrastructure of this nature it is time that persons that are elected to these offices do their jobs with professionalism,dexterity and aplomb and stop taking the general populance for granted.
VAT is used to buy prados, it’s simple economics. The Govt. of Guyana is responsible for building and maintaining infrastructure which I believe the Jagdeo administration has been doing; the building part, at least…and, to some extent. Although they haven’t been doing enough, they have been doing a fair amount in regards to the infrastructure and that fact has to be noted. I said it in an earlier post, that bridge was not capable of holding up a truck (loaded with CEMENT) of that size and weight. Even the regular sand trucks that they have in Guyana could not have crossed that bridge, much less a cement truck.
Here is a matter that was brought to the attention of the minister who in my mind didnt do anything to help the situation. when a group of residents would take time off to visit your office to highlight a problem it must be taken with ultimate seriousness.
At that time they could not have find the money but now that a man is dead they will find more than the initial sum of money
The government need to stop being reactive and more proactive
i guess that is why the have taken sharma off the air because i am pretty sure he would have highlight the very issue and it would have probably drawn the government to fixed it and a daughter and wife could have still have their father and husband today
You right chetty12…” The government need to stop being reactive and more proactive “. But when?
I am eagerly awaiting the return of Sharma TV.
Hopefully he won’t fall into any traps that might be deliberately laid for him.
You know what I mean?
Looking at the pictures, it so good to see our Guyanese brothers (black & indians) taking part in rescuing the injured person.That made my day !
I do not know why people are still surprised to see Indian and African working together,they have always lived and worked together in Guyana,they are like lovers who can’t live without each other,through thick and thin they have held together,regardless of all the negative that have been coming against them over the years,and all the doomsayers that would not shut up,they still have not exploded and divided,KEEP IT UP GUYANA.
The tax payers ain’t got to pay the family anything! Look at that bridge and look at the size and weight of that truck. I call a spade a spade, but the Govt can’t be blamed for this one, go to the chronicle and you’ll get a better look at that bridge. The driver should not have tried to put a square peg in a round hole, he should have clearly seen that the bridge was not strong enough. That truck was way too big for that bridge and it was proven by the accident. The Govt. is responsible for building proper bridges in small communities, but let’s not take our criticisms overboard and blame them for everything. Even in ‘big big’ America you will find roads caving in, bridges collapsing, tunnels collapsing, overpasses collapsing and a whole list of other things. You guys should put your criticisms on a leash for this one.
I agree with u100 percent,but it was heartening to see the spirit excercise in trying to get the occupants out of the wrecked vehicle, its good to see with all the negative thigns about GUYANA people can still come together for a good cause……. I WONDER IF DEM POLITICIANS SEE THIS?
YOU ARE SO RIGHT ink09, Had the driver exercise good judgement he would’ve been alive today.
First and foremost the truck was taking cement to a construction site, with that amount of cement I don’t think that building was for squatters which I am assuming is a transported property. They are also residence who were living in the area prior to this construction which would indicate that it was somewhat a developing or developed neighbourhood, my point is that once you have an area developing you need to have the proper infrastructure in place I am assuming again that ,that was the only way to enter into the district and if that is so it is the responsibility of the Central and Local Government to plan for these developing districts, The community took the inititative to approach the Ministry which is a clear indication that the Bridge was a potential hazard and it was,so by right the Government should be held responsible.
ink09,
I agree with you, apparently EVERYTHING that people do without thinking is the government fault or the government do it or the government is responsible for doing it…lard have mercy. Incidentally, the bridge didn’t hear the driver saying “is de govament jaab foh fix it”. The driver knows that best now. The driver should have used his judgment better. No one should be sued or held responsible except the driver. Sorry.
those bridges were not constructed for that much weight, because we did not have such heavy vehicles.
My condolences to the Ramratan family. (How do you console a wife and daughter at this time?)
This incident is so sad, especially since it could have been avoided.
I do hope that other drivers learn from this and proceed with caution when confronted with similar situations.
The NDC’s should be more proactive in their respective communities, as this incident is just a drop in the ocean.
Can anyone say if TPL has a standing policy with regard to traversing such infrastructure, or are they just interested in delivering the product to their customers?
By the way, I am not surprised that the Minister is reported to have said that Carifesta was a priority over a necessary infrastructure for our citizens.
In my recent visit home I was appalled at how “stink” Georgetown looked, but my friends were quick to point out the the administration will fix it up in time for Carifesta (being sarcastic in implying that Guyanese were generally not deserving of a decent environment).