Bomikhal flyover collapse: 3 engineers charged with gross negligence

Bhubaneswar: Three engineers, who were earlier suspended following the death of one person in Bomikhal flyover collapse here, have been charge-sheeted under Rule 15 of Odisha Public Service Act for gross dereliction of duty.

According to the inquiry report submitted to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik by chief engineer of designs and chief engineer of road section under the Works department on Wednesday, gross negligence on the part of executive engineer Dukhabandhu Behera, deputy executive engineer Bansidhar Praharaj and assistant engineer Kishore Kumar Rout led to the mishap.

Highlighting that the standard operating procedure (SOP) was violated and approval for the centering work was not taken prior to construction, the report stated that Panda Infra Project Private Limited, the company assigned the construction work, will be blacklisted for its failure to submit the bridge design before taking up the work and for not adhering to the safety guidelines during construction.

While the total tender for the project was Rs 44 crore, Panda Infra had alone acquired tender of Rs 28 crore. Of total 75 spans, 60 were laid completely in the 844-metre-long flyover, the report mentioned.

Meanwhile, the Orissa High Court deferred hearing on the bail plea of Panda Infra owner Pratap Panda to October 9 and asked the Commissionerate Police to submit the case diary in this connection.