6-Yr-Old Boy Swept Away In Open Drain Dies in Bhubaneswar, Min Asks BMC To Submit Report By Evening

Bhubaneswar: A six-year-old boy identified as Abu Bakar Saha died after he was swept away in an open drain in Masjeed Colony in Unit-III area in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.  declared dead by the doctors.

Rajesh fell into the open drain while playing outside his home during the rains. According to locals, the ill-fated child was trying to retrieve a balloon that had drifted on the flowing rain water.

The child was swept away by the strong current in the open drain. His family members, neighbours and fire officials recovered his body after an hour-long search in a nullah at Laxmi Sagar.

He was rushed to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar , where doctors declared him dead.

Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das announced Rs 4 lakh compensation for the family of the minor deceased.

Taking the matter seriously, Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra visited Unit-III Maszid Colony where the minor boy faced the mishap.

Expressing concern over the incident, the Minister ordered the Bhubaneswar Municipal Commissioner (BMC) to submit a report as to why the open drain was not barricaded. The commissioner of the BMC has been directed to submit the report by Wednesday evening.

The Minister also met the family members of the deceased and assured them to take stringent action against the persons responsible for the mishap.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also expressed grief over the death of the minor boy in an open drain in Unit-III area of Bhubaneswar and announced Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia to the next to the kin of the deceased. The compensation amount will be paid to the victim’s family from the State Disaster Response Fund.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari also expressed deep grief over the tragic incident.