3 Engineers Suspended Over Kendrapada Bridge Collapse In Odisha

Kendrapada: Three engineers of Kendrapada division of the works department have been suspended for gross negligence in connection with the collapse of an under-construction bridge over river Gobari on a bypass.

The suspended engineers are Prasan Kumar Samal, A.E., Section-I, under Sub-Division-I, Kendrapara (R&B) Division-I, Khirod Chandra Behera, E.E., Kendrapara (R&B) Divn.-I, and Nihar Ranjan Majhi, A.E.E., Kendrapara (R&B) Divn-I.

It may be noted that construction of the bridge over the Gobari River on the second bypass road of Kendrapada was underway when the bridge guarder collapsed 12 hours after it was set on March 15. The project is being implemented at a cost of Rs 10 crore.

The action was taken after it was prima facie established that the three engineers have violated the Odisha Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1959. The three were found guilty of gross negligence in duty, technical flaw & compromised quality of work; leading to the collapse of one pre-stressed concrete girder along with incidental damage to the bridge, sources said.

Executive Engineer Behera was suspended on the charge of negligence in inspection which he ought to have done at regular intervals.

Following the incident, opposition members had raised the issue in the state Assembly during its budget session demanding a thorough probe and stringent action against the guilty.