Bhubaneswar, (Orissa Today), June 19: On Wednesday, Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra visited Unit-III Maszid Colony in the state capital where a young boy tragically lost his life after falling into an open drain.
Mohapatra, arriving early in the morning, took serious note of the situation and directed the Bhubaneswar Municipal Commissioner (BMC) to provide a report explaining the absence of barricades near the drain. The BMC Commissioner has been instructed to submit this report by the evening.
The Minister personally met with the family of the deceased and assured them of stringent action against those responsible for the incident.
The tragic event occurred on Tuesday when the boy, Abu Bakar, was swept away in an open drain filled with rainwater while attempting to retrieve a balloon floating on the surface. He was rescued from a nullah near Laxmi Sagar in critical condition and rushed to Capital Hospital, where doctors unfortunately pronounced him deceased.
The incident has deeply shaken the local community.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed profound sorrow over the boy’s death and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin from the State Disaster Response Fund. Minister Majhi extended condolences to the grieving family.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari also conveyed heartfelt condolences over the tragic incident.
Minister orders probe into child’s drain mishap in Bhubaneswar
