Latest news with #RourkelaDevelopmentAuthority
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Rights panel to hear Rourkela girl drowning case
Rourkela: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will hold a hearing in Bhubaneswar on Monday regarding the drowning of a seven-year-old girl, Sarun Badaik, into an unprotected underground tank in an affordable housing colony here on May 28. NHRC will hear the case following a complaint by human rights activist Saarat Jena, who described the incident as a murder due to systemic negligence involving the contractor and senior officials associated with the housing project. Deputy secretary in the home department has instructed the collector and district magistrate of Sundargarh to attend the NHRC's camp sitting. Sarun, the only daughter of Mumbai-based mason Rohit Badaik, fell into the tank while playing in the Gopabandhu Nagar housing complex, a project executed by the Rourkela Development Authority. Her body was discovered after a three-hour search. The family had recently moved to the colony from Bidyut Basti. The incident sparked outrage among residents, who demanded accountability from civic authorities and the contractor. Protesters, including human rights activists, have called for a high-level inquiry and Rs 50 lakh compensation for the bereaved family. They have also requested assistance for the parents to adopt another child, as Sarun's mother is unable to conceive again. The protesters initially refused to release the body for post-mortem until their demands were met.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Time of India
Rourkela girl dies after falling into open drain
Rourkela: A seven-year-old girl, playing inside her housing complex, fell into an open drain and drowned on Wednesday. Saran Badaik, the only daughter of Mumbai-based mason Rohit Badaik, fell into the drain around 8 pm. Her body was found stuck in the drain after a three-hour search. Saran and her family had moved into the affordable housing colony in Chhend just two weeks back from Bidyut basti. However, the joy was tragically cut short. The death triggered anger with residents of the housing colony demanding action against civic authorities and the contractor. "The negligence of the contractor and authorities claimed my daughter's life. We were forced to move here before the project's completion," a grieving family member alleged. Like the Badaiks, several families have moved to the 500-quarter complex near Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, developed under a public-private partnership for slum dwellers. On Thursday, protesters, including human rights activists, demanded a high-level inquiry and Rs 50 lakh compensation for the bereaved family. They have refused to release the body for postmortem until their demands are met. Chhend police station sub-inspector Om Prakash Routray confirmed that an unnatural death case has been registered based on an FIR. The victim's father, who rushed back from Mumbai, plans to file an additional complaint. Rourkela Development Authority (RDA) and Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) officials visited the site on Thursday. "This tragic incident falls under RDA's jurisdiction. We are reviewing the allegations and demands from family members and residents," said Ajit Patnaik, assistant commissioner, RMC. Despite repeated attempts, RDA secretary L Mahato remained unavailable for comment.
