3 Engineers Of Rural Works Division Suspended For Culvert Collapse Incident In Odisha’s Rayagada

Rayagada: Three engineers of Rural Works Division, Rayagada, have been suspended in connection with the death of five persons, including 4 children, in the culvert collapse incident at Uparajasa village under Kalyansingpur block, Rayagada collector Swadha Dev Singh informed on Tuesday.

They have been identified as executive engineer Pradeep Kumar Mohanty posted at Rayagada, junior engineer Rajesh Kumar Mandal posted at Kalyansingpur and assistant executive engineer Muduli Venkat Raman posted at Sub-Division-II, Rayagada. Disciplinary proceedings are likely to be initiated against them. During the period of suspension, their headquarters have been fixed at the office of the Chief Construction Engineer, Rural Works Circle, Sunadeba, the order issued by Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh said.

They have been asked not to leave the headquarters without the permission of the Chief Construction Engineer.

A case has also been registered against the contractor, the collector added.

The incident took place on Monday when the victims were bathing in the rainwater, which had accumulated under the box-cell culvert, connecting the road to state highway 45 via Sajja village. It was being developed under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) on a budget of Rs 2.74 crore.

The deceased have been identified as Lakhmidhar Miniaka (45), Prince Miniaka (8), Suman Miniaka (5), Saran Miniaka (5) and Manoj Miniaka (5). Another child Anwesha Miniaka, 5, was rescued from under the debris and admitted to Kalyansingpur hospital.

According to sources, construction of the bridge had started two months back but was stopped midday due to rain. Iswar Chetty, a contractor, had taken up construction of the road from Kotalapadu to Talasaja village under the scheme. A bridge was being constructed over the nullah which flows in the midst of the road at a cost of Rs 17 lakh.

On Monday, local MLA and Law and ST/SC minister Jagannath Saraka had said that an inquiry will be conducted by the rural development department to determine the cause of the cave-in. “A high-level team of the department will visit the spot to find out the reason behind the incident and action will be taken based on its findings,” he added.