Cuttack: In a tragic incident, nine-year-old Joseph Sahani, a Class III student of Modern Public School, succumbed to his injuries falling into an open drain while flying kite in the Bidanasi area of Cuttack on Sunday evening.
According to reports, Joseph was flying kite with his friends near his house around 4:30 pm on Sunday when the accident occurred. Joseph’s family members claimed that he had left home without informing anybody.
“After lunch, we were watching TV when Joseph went out without informing anyone. He fell into the open drain accidentally while flying a kite,” a relative of the deceased said. The family members have held the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) officials for the tragic death of the boy.
“It is almost two to three months that the ongoing construction work of the drain has been stopped. The authorities have left a major drain at several points open inviting accidents. Had the CMC covered the drain with concrete, the unfortunate incident could have been avoided,” said a local resident.
Meanwhile, despite several attempts, the CMC authorities could not be contacted for their comment.
Last week, a photojournalist from South Korea sustained injuries after falling into an open drain in Bhubaneswar. He is in Bhubaneswar to cover the Hockey World Cup and fell into the open drain while having a cup of tea at a roadside stall in Dumduma area.
