A powerful explosion from an improvised explosive device damaged a key bridge along NH 2 in Manipur, leaving more than 150 trucks carrying essential commodities to the state capital Imphal stranded in Senapati district on Wednesday.
Some unidentified miscreants caused a powerful explosion of an improvised explosive device that damaged the bridge between Koubru Leikha and Saparmeina in Kangpokpi district at around 12:45 am, an official said.
No casualties were reported in the explosion that formed three craters in the middle part of the bridge in the state affected by ethnic violence.
The Manipur government has suspended movement of heavy vehicles between Saparmeina and Koubru Leikha along NH 2 “with immediate effect to avoid untoward incidents”.
According to the order issued by the Kangpokpi district magistrate, “unladen light vehicles and light passenger vehicles may be subject to strict regulation for the time being.”
The Kangpokpi superintendent of police will regulate traffic until an alternative route is found, he said.
“More than 150 trucks were stranded due to the blast. The trucks were carrying essential items on NH-2,” an official said.
The highway connects landlocked Manipur and its capital Imphal with Dimapur of Nagaland and is the main lifeline of the state.
Security personnel cordoned off the bridge, he said, adding that an investigation has been launched into the IED explosion.
The IED blast came hours after gunfights broke out between volunteers of the two warring communities in Imphal West district.
More than 200 people have been killed and thousands left homeless in ethnic violence in Manipur between the Meiteis, based in the Imphal Valley, and the Kukis, based in the adjacent hills, since May last year.
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