3 killed, 2 injured as slab collapses at bridge construction site
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Bhubaneswar: Three persons were killed and two others sustained critical injuries after a slab of an under-construction bridge over the Kathajodi river collapsed at Khannagar in Cuttack on Saturday evening.
Sources said a crane was carrying a slab at the construction site when it collapsed on the men working under the bridge. All the injured were rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital after the accident.
Doctors declared two of them brought dead, and another injured person died during treatment. The condition of the two injured is stated to be critical. The deceased have been identified as site engineer Soumya Ranjan Mallick, and workers Siba Shankar Pattnaik and Subash Mandal.
CM Mohan Charan Majhi announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of the deceased from Chief Minister's Relief Fund and free treatment for the injured. "The CM extended deep condolences to the bereaved families of those who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery for all the injured. He ordered an investigation into the incident," read a CMO statement.
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Following the direction from Majhi, the state govt formed a three-member committee to probe the bridge collapse. "The committee will be led by engineer-in-chief, Laxmikant Padhi, and it will submit its report in 15 days," works minister Prithiviraj Harichandan told media persons.
DCP (Cuttack) Rishikesh Khilari said preliminary investigation revealed that the crane carrying the slab collapsed. "Further investigation will reveal more information," said Khilari, adding that the victims are from Odisha and West Bengal.
Cuttack mayor Subash Singh said stern action should be taken against those responsible for the accident. "It is very unfortunate, and the culprit behind it should not be spared. The contractor should follow the standard operating procedure in bridge work," he said. Construction of the bridge started recently after inauguration of the new bus terminal at Khannagar.
The collapse of the bridge at Khannagar has ignited a debate among people and experts about the safety protocols being followed by the contractors at the construction sites. "Similar incidents have taken place in the past. Innocent people lost their lives and the culprits were spared. A strong mechanism is the need of the hour to avert such incidents," said Pintu Mahar, Badambadi resident.
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