Cuttack box drain tragedy: Locals gherao CMC Mayor, Commissioner

Angry over back-to-back mishaps leading to the deaths of two persons including a minor girl, several local residents on Wednesday gheraoed CMC Mayor and Commissioner while they had gone to meet the family members of one of the deceased.

Several Congress leaders slammed Mayor Subhash Singh and other CMC officials for alleged lapses and negligence in discharging their duty resulting in mishaps at several construction sites in the city and the loss of precious lives.

It is pertinent to mention here that a minor girl M Mohini died hours after she got trapped under gigantic pipes and concrete structure of a pathway over a stormwater drain in Kesharpur-Gamandia area in Cuttack on Tuesday.

“We would term it an accident, had it been a sole incident. However, there have been multiple mishaps at different construction sites in the city for which it is certainly a man-made disaster,” alleged Congress leader Giribala Behera.

Meanwhile, the CMC Mayor announced that Rs 10 lakh compensation will be given to the deceased's family.

Moreover, two assistant engineers of CMC- Sanjeev Pradhan, Dillip Sahoo have been suspended on charges of dereliction of duty.

Earlier on Monday, one person died after a car plunged into Taladanda canal.

Cuttack Mayor Subhas Singh said, “We have convened a meeting with district administration, police and other officials executing construction work including the box drain project.” Singh further said that a review would be conducted to find out why such incidents occurred and ensure that similar mishaps do not recur.