JICA Tunnel Mishap: Body Of Labourer Seized, Contractor Arrested

Cuttack: Commissionerate Police, which arrested a contractor and seized the body of a labourer from his vehicle late on Saturday night, will forward him to the court on Monday. The deceased labourer has been identified as Ujjwal Das of West Howrah district in West Bengal.

Sources said the contractor had engaged some labourers for the construction of a sewerage tunnel funded by the JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) in Mahidas Bazar area on Saturday night. However, the three labourers who had gone inside the tunnel fell unconscious due to lack of oxygen. Labourers who were outside panicked when there was no response to their calls from the tunnel. They then informed the locals who rushed to the spot and rescued the three unconscious labourers of whom Das was found dead.

The labourers later informed the contractor who arrived at the site and took Das’s body in his vehicle. Suspecting foul play, the locals informed the police about the incident following which a police team went after the contractor and arrested him at about 3 am.

The police later seized the body and arrested the contractor.

The two unconscious labourers, Sangram Nayak and Rajesh Isku were rushed to the City Hospital and later shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital where their condition is stated to be stable.

Speaking to the media later, Cuttack DCP Akhileswar Singh said the Commissionerate Police has served a notice to JICA authorities.

“Instructions have been given to JICA to put up a sign board at the construction site. Besides, they have been asked to inform the police in advance before taking up the digging of a tunnel,” he added.