Bhubaneswar: Assistant Executive Engineer Kamalakanta Taria and Junior Engineer Manoranjan Mohapatra, earlier suspended by the the Rural Development Department, were arrested on Monday in connection with the bridge collapse incident near Bheden in Bargarh district the previous day.
Hours after the mishap, the two engineers in charge of the bridge construction work were placed under suspension for alleged dereliction of duty.
Chief engineer Bharat Pradhan has been asked by the department to submit his inquiry report by this evening.
Meanwhile, handlooms, handicrafts and textile minister Snehangini Chhuria expressed grave concern over the incident and demanded stern action against those responsible for the mishap.
In a tweet, MP Baijayant Jay Panda demanded for setting up of a task force to monitor and examine other under-construction and recently constructed bridges across the state.
Not again! Must urgently set up task force to examine other under construction (& recently cnstrctd) bridges/flyovers to ensure they're safe https://t.co/mmHxV2ctPe
— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) September 25, 2017
On Sunday, seven labourers were seriously injured when a portion of the under-construction bridge over Jeera river near Jamadol under Bheden block in the district collapsed during installation of a slab.
The bridge was being constructed under Biju Setu Yojana at an estimated cost of Rs 8.5 crore.
