Preliminary enquiry conducted by the district administration suggests that the side wall of the under construction bridge on the Chhatra Bazar-Malgodown road collapsed due to the impact of vehiclular movement on the old structure, said Cuttack district Collector Bhabani Shankar Chayani on Thursday.
“However, we will carry out our independent investigation into the mishap. This apart, we will also seek a technical report from the Roads and Building department. Thereafter, we will prepare the detailed report and submit it to the RDC within a day or two,” informed Chayani.
Two persons were killed while one person sustained injury in the mishap which took place during the evening rush hour on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Chayani said vehicular movement on the bridge has been suspended and policemen have been deployed at the both ends of the bridge to prevent motorists from using the bridge. He said the bodies of the two victims have been handed over to their respective families following autopsy.
On the other hand, secretary of Chhatra Bazar Traders’ Association Debendranath Sahu held the contractor squarely responsible for the mishap. “We demand a thorough investigation into the incident,” Sahu said.
Following the mishap, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced an ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh for the next of the kin of the deceased and ordered for an RDC-level probe into the mishap yesterday.