NHRC Asks Odisha Govt To Pay Rs 5 Lakh Ex-Gratia To Kin Of Man Killed In Bridge Collapse

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Odisha government to pay Rs 5 lakh compensation to next of kin of a labourer who died after an under-construction bridge collapsed in Nabarangpur district two years ago.

The Commission in a direction to the Chief Secretary also ordered payment of Rs 1 lakh ex-gratia to those injured in the mishap that took place on January 10, 2021.

The NHRC issued the order on April 11 after hearing a petition filed by human rights activist Akhand two years ago. The petitioner alleged that a portion of the bridge, which was being constructed under Biju Setu Yojana across river Nagi on Janiguda-Talapadar road near Umerkote, had caved in due to poor quality work.

While Mahendra Mali, 45, succumbed to his injuries during treatment in a hospital, 11 others were injured in the incident, the petitioner claimed, alleging that the incident had occurred due to bad quality work and lack of safety measures.

Taking cognisance of the case on March 3, 2021, the NHRC had sought a report from Nabarangpur collector. The collector in a report said assistant engineer, assistant executive engineer and executive engineer of Rural Works Division, Nabarangpur-II, Umerkote were placed under suspension. While the contract of the work was rescinded by the government, wife of the deceased was provided with Rs 1,36,034 as compensation, it said.

Finding the ex-gratia given to the wife of the deceased meagre, the NHRC expressed unhappiness for not providing compensation to the injured persons. “The inquiry report establishes violation of human rights and the state is vicariously liable for the same,” it said.

The Commission had on June 28, last year, issued show cause to the state government as to why it should not recommend compensation for an amount of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh to each injured person. The state government was asked to give its reply within four weeks. However, the state did not submit its reply within the scheduled date even after a reminder.

The NHRC finally took the June 28, 2022 order final and ordered the chief secretary to pay the ex-gratia within six weeks and submit compliance report latest by June 2.