Bhubaneswar: Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra on Wednesday visited Unit-III Maszid Colony in the state Capital where a minor boy died after being swept away in an open drain.
Taking the matter seriously, Mohapatra reached the Unit-3 Maszid Colony early Wednesday morning. Expressing concern over the sorry state of affairs, the Minister has ordered the Bhubaneswar Municipal Commissioner (BMC) to submit a report as to why barricade was not near the drain. The civic body commissioner has been asked to submit the report by this evening.
The Minister also met the family members of the deceased and assured them to take stringent action against the persons responsible for the mishap.
On Tuesday, the deceased boy Abu Bakar was swept away in an open drain filled with rain water while trying to catch a balloon floating on the water. He was later rescued from a nullah near Laxmi Sagar in a critical condition. He was immediately taken to Capital Hospital where doctors declared him dead.
The incident has sent a shockwave in the locality.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also expressed grief over the death of the minor boy in an open drain in Unit-III area of Bhubaneswar and announced Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia to the next to the kin of the deceased. Majhi also expressed condolence to the bereaved family.
The compensation amount will be paid to the victim’s family from the State Disaster Response Fund.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari also expressed deep grief over the tragic incident.
