A midnight miracle—or nightmare—unfolded in Korba when a 60-foot, 30-ton iron bridge over a canal near Russian Hostel vanished without a trace. The 40-year-old lifeline for residents was reduced to scraps by a gang of thieves on January 17, 2026, in a meticulously planned operation that has police scrambling.
Using gas cutters powered by oxygen and LPG cylinders, the thieves spent hours segmenting the massive structure’s railings and beams. They transported the loot via vehicles, evading detection until morning chaos ensued.
SP Siddharth Tiwari mobilized a specialized unit with cyber support, identifying 15 culprits through digital trails and intelligence. Arrests include Lochan Kewat (20), Jaysingh Rajput (23), Moti Prajapati (27), Sumit Sahu (19), and Keshavpuri Goswami alias Picture (22).
Investigators recovered 5 tons of iron scraps, a Tata Ace, Splendor motorcycle, gas equipment, cylinders, mobiles, and Rs 6,000 cash from the suspects’ leads. The case, lodged at Civil Lines Rampur (CSEB), invokes Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions.
Ten suspects remain elusive, but police assure imminent captures. This brazen act against public property raises alarms about rising thefts of infrastructure metals, fueling demands for surveillance upgrades and community vigilance to safeguard essential crossings.