Odisha CM Announces Rs 4 Lakh Ex-Gratia Each For Victims Of Rayagada’s Culvert Collapse

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of the kin of the five persons, including 4 children, who were killed after a culvert under construction collapsed in Odisha’s Rayagada district.

The CM also expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident and extended condolences to the bereaved families. “Strict action would be taken against those responsible for it,” he added.

The incident took place at Uparsaja village in Kalyansinghpur block when people, most of whom were children, were bathing in the rainwater that had accumulated under the culvert. The victims succumbed to bleeding head injuries caused in the culvert collapse, sources said.

A pall of gloom descended on the village following the death of the children. The parents of the deceased were seen wailing over the bodies of their children as villagers gathered in large numbers at the fallen culvert despite incessant rain in the area. They expressed concern over the under-construction culvert collapsing after just a few spells of rain.

While a rescue team, comprising personnel of the fire service and police, engaged in clearing the debris, suspecting that more bodies might be trapped in there, the authorities have initiated an enquiry into the incident.