19 injured as panchayat office floor caves in

Berhampur: As many as 19 women of a Self Help Group (SHG) sustained injuries after the office floor of office of Pittala gram panchayat under Sheragada blcok in Ganjam district collapsed due to alleged poor construction work.

All the injured were rushed to Hinjili Health Centre by ambulances and later five of them were referred to MKCG medical college and hospital here. Their condition is stable, medical sources said.

The incident took place at around 7 am when the members of the local SHG congregated at the panchayat office after taking out a cleanliness drive in the morning. They were about to discuss some of their issues at the office.

Locals alleged the floor of the office room was washed away during the time of cyclonic storm ‘Phailin’and was filled with sand. However, it was again repaired in a poor manner leading to the unfortunate incident today, they said.

Meanwhile, BDO, tehsildar and block chairman rushed to the spot and started investigation.