7 labourers injured as bridge under construction collapses in Bargarh

Bargarh: In an unfortunate incident, as many as seven labourers were seriously injured when a portion of an under-construction bridge over Jeera river near Jamadol under Bheden block in Bargarh district collapsed on Sunday.

Those injured were rushed to the district headquarters hospital in a critical condition. Two among them were identified as Rajat Nayak and Surendra Nayak.

According to local residents, the bridge collapsed during installation of a slab. Two motorcycles parked near the bridge were also damaged in the incident.

Receiving information regarding the mishap, district officials and police reached the spot and started probe.

According to sources, the bridge is being constructed under Biju Setu Yojana by the Rural Development Department at an estimated cost of Rs 8.5 crore.

Speaking to a TV channel, Rural Development Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh said the department has suspended the Executive Engineer, Assistant Engineer and Junior Engineer who were in charge of the bridge construction.

On September 10, an under-construction flyover near Bomikhal in Bhubaneswar had collapsed killing a person and injuring 11 others. Four persons, including two engineers of the Works department, were arrested in connection with the incident.