BALASORE: Six workers sustained serious injuries after the roof of an under-construction building collapsed in the industrial area on the outskirts of Balasore on Sunday. The workers were rushed to District Headquarters Hospital in a critical condition.
The incident occurred at about 2.30 pm when the workers were engaged in concrete roofing of hostel building of Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET).
As the news of the mishap spread, locals rushed to the spot to rescue the trapped workers. Later, the district administration pressed a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), two fire tenders and two bulldozers in rescue operation.
Though initially it was feared that some were trapped under the debris, no casualty was reported. All injured workers belonged to Kaptipada and Khunta in Mayurbhanj district. The condition of two is stated to be critical.
Police sources said the hostel was being built by National Bridge Construction Corporation (NBCC) which had engaged local contractors for construction activities. As many as 36 workers were at the site when the roof caved in.
Additional District Magistrate Manmath Pani, who visited the spot, suspected that the roof collapsed as the contractor used wooden structure instead of iron for construction of the roof nearly 30 feet high. “We have instructed police to file a case against the construction company. A fact-finding team will be formed to ascertain the cause of incident and action would be initiated against those found guilty,” he added.