Panda was taken to the Capital Hospital immediately after his arrest and referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack when he showed papers related to his recent kidney stone surgery. After check-up, the doctors said his health condition was stable. Acting on the doctor reports, police produced Panda at the resident court of the Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM), which rejected his bail plea, and remanded him to judicial custody.
Police said some government officials and the staff of the construction will also be arrested soon since complaints have been lodged against them for gross dereliction of duty.
The incident took place around 9.30 pm on Thursday when a portion of the flyover caved in resulting in the death of a labourer, Ajay Vumicha (38) of Lathikata area of Sundargarh district. Another labourer Ananda Kumar Nayak sustained serious injuries. He is currently undergoing treatment at AMRI Hospital in the city.
Following the incident, an eight-member forensic team had rushed to the mishap site on Friday for an on-the-spot investigation. The team found that the iron rods were not properly aligned because of which the balance could not be maintained and it caved in.
The team has been asked to submit a report to the government within a week.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who visited the mishap site on Saturday, blamed the state government for the unfortunate incident.
“The collapse of the flyover for the second time in seven months is indeed deplorable. The state government is not bothered about such incident. Giving extension of service to senior bureaucrats and engaging the blacklisted companies and agencies in the construction work is a clear indication of the gross apathy of the state government towards the safety of the people of the state,” he told mediapersons.
The Union minister said the state government should ask the IIT-Chennai to probe the incident and initiate stern action against the guilty.
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