-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.
Could we know who is the contractor that got the concession to build the bridge? This is not the first time that something like this has happened.
Don’t blame the contractor…..every bridge has a weight limit….did he observe, or use his judgement on this or just drive through as if on the motorway?
Sorry for the loss of such a hard-working man and hope the other recovers well.
Now, why the hell do the people have to raise money (is it the responsibility of the people to fund these projects?) I must say hats off to all the people who helped to get the injured out (that is who we are Guyanese) and that is how we do things.
They have placed all the emphasis on Carifesta no doubt. Nobody has ever been held responsible for these actions.
Well the truck had 20 tonnes and the bridge had a capacity for 5 with a sign posted. Did anyone see a sign at the time of the accident. I am assuming that this is not the first time these types of trucks crossed this bridge because of the construction that is taking place. I agree with one of the commenters to sue the authorities. Get a good civil lawyer and sue under tort law for professional negligence. Sue the NDC, RDC, the Government and every avenue possible. With regards to Toolsie Persaud, I am not sure if they are in the hook for anything; the most they can do is assist the family and help with NIS claims.
Sue? I think you forgetting that is Guyana you talking about. You can’t even file a complaint with the police without getting the run-around, imagine a lawsuit.
Sue, sue who rp ???????, da don’t wok in our country big man.
Let us hope that Toolsie use good judgement and take care of
de man wife and kids.
This is so sad. My prayers goes out to their families.
The really sad fact of the matter is that regardless of who build the bridge, nothing should be allowed on the bridge over the specified maximum allowed.
It is so sad for Fenton to lose his life. I came from the same village Fenton grew up in New Hope (E.B.D). I knew all his family – Ricky, Chicko. His dad love his mom Doris and his sister. My heart goes out to that family. Sad, sad, sad.
Surly when it comes to any form of public crossing whether on foot or vehicles public safety is PARAMOUNT. How can the minister for Public Works not take the safety of the public as priority.
how long was the bridge constructed, and when did we see these vehicles in guyana.
they were not design for that size and weight of those vehicles. all of you can sue or complain. sad but was an accident. All new construction will have to design to meet those requirements.
registrations and insurance fees for those trucks must be greater also.
Since this bridge was the sole entry point to the community , i would like to think this not the first time a ready mix truck or any other of similar weight would have used this bridge.
Those in authority are always so much wiser after a fatality or loss of limb.
Sad indeed.
it is sad to see/read that a young man lost his life.
it is sad to know that some of you making comments don’t know that no goverment can build/repair all bridges/roads at the same time.
and what is worst is most of you live in the US/canada where bridges and road ways are crumbeling all the time and what is strange is we don’t hear your voices.
STOP BLAMING THE NDC. RDC. AND GOVER.
TOOLSIE PERSAUD MUST BE MADE TO REPLACE THE BRIDGE CHECK THE LAW AND INSURANCE CO.
This is very very sad and tragic indeed. My condolences to the family. The dead driver has to share some of the blame for not inspecting the bridge. Don’t cuss me out yet! The “authorities” are responsible for the maintenance of the bridge but he also had a responsibility for the safe operation of his equipment.
We all have a responsibility to ensure that the infrastructures in our neighborhoods are safe to be used. Flood the village leaders and politicians with complaint after complaint until something is done.
A sad, unfortunate and completely avoidable incident indeed!. My prayers and sympathies go out to both families, especially the Ramratans, whose loss will change their lives for ever. To reiterate a comment posted earlier, I do hope the employers of the victims provide assistance to families in circumstances such as these. I will not be redundant by commenting on the poor infrastructure we see in areas in rapid development nor of the obvious shortcomings that precipitated this most unfortunate incident. However, I will place emphasis on the unity and empathy displayed by the residents and those who were present. Even more than this, i am taken aback by the lack of proper and prompt professional emergency response. The efforts of the residents may have in this occasion saved the life of the survivor but, these very efforts could have unintentionally been his demise.
Ease up Gopie.
De man was a hard wuking man going diligently about his daily work.
You ever try reading the weight limit on any bridge when you are driving?
First you have to search for the sign.
Then you have to get some binoculars to read it if you do find it.
Next if you have to turn back you have to contend with irate motorists.
Ease up my friend.
It was most tragic.