Bariput Hill Collapse: Rescue Operation Resumes On Fourth Day

Jeypore: The joint operation by the NDRF, ODRAF and the Fire Brigade to rescue the two JCB operators trapped under a heap of boulders near Bariput village under Borrigumma block in Odisha’s Koraput district, which was suspended due to heavy rain in the afternoon on Sunday, resumed in the morning on Monday.

According to reports, the rescue operation resumed at 8 am in presence of Koraput sub-collector, Borigumma SDPO, Water Resources officials, senior police officials and the family members of the trapped operators.

The district administration is hopeful that the two trapped JCB operators would be rescued on Monday as the administration has requisitioned two high-powered crane and a JCB machine for the rescue operation.

The two JCB operators— Ghanashyam Guru of Deogarh and Sanjay Dash of Athagarh area in Cuttack district— have been stuck under a heap of boulders since evening on May 31.

Though the rescue operation had started on June 1, a day after the mishap that took place in the evening, the two operators could not be rescued as the JCB machine and the crane used in the operation failed to dislodge the boulders weighing up to 20-50 tonnes.

The two JCB operators were engaged in excavating boulders in the ongoing Telengiri Irrigation project in Bariput village when the hill caved in around 5 pm on May 31 trapping the JCB vehicles and their operators.

The Bariput villagers said prior to the incident, the stone mining operation was on for the last two days.

Expressing resentment against the gross apathy of the DD Constructions Ltd which had engaged the workers without ensuring standard operating procedure (SOP) norm, the aggrieved family members have lodged a complaint with Ranigada Outpost demanding cancellation of the license of the company.

The locals have alleged that the mishap took place due to lack of proper coordination and planning among the district administration, police and the company which was engaged in Telengiri project work.

Meanwhile, Borigumma police are in search of the contractor and other employees of the DD Construction Ltd.