CUTTACK: The apathy of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) claimed yet another life as a 47-year-old labourer died after falling into an open drain at Mahima Nagar within CRRI police limits here late on Wednesday night.
The deceased was identified as Zakir Khan (47) from West Bengal’s Murshidabad district. Locals spotted him lying in the drain on Thursday morning and informed police. Khan was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.
Locals alleged the drain has been left open for the last over one month. While the contractor has been sitting pretty, the CMC has turned a blind eye to the issue which ultimately resulted in the tragedy.
“Students of a college and at least three schools use the route and the civic authorities are risking their as well as our lives. When we requested the contractor to cover it, he said he cannot do so as the model code of conduct is in place. The MCC was imposed only a few days back, but the drain has been left open since long,” a local alleged.
Cuttack Mayor Subhas Singh tried to shift the blame on the deceased hinting he was inebriated when he fell into it. “The drain cleaning work is going on keeping in view the upcoming monsoon season. It is not possible that a man in his senses will die after falling into a drain which is only around 1.5 feet deep and wide,” Singh said.
A case of unnatural death has been registered. More details will emerge after the postmortem report is received and further investigation is on, said an officer of CRRI police station.
Locals have time and again been complaining of drains being left open for months even after completion of work. This is the fourth incident of a person losing his life after falling into an open drain in Cuttack within a year.
Previous incidents
On July 15 2023, A 22-year-old youth died after falling into an open drain at Jhola Sahi area of Cuttack.The deceased was a native of Rajasthan, who had come to Cuttack to visit his relatives
Four days later, a sanitation worker died after falling into an open drain in Barapathar area of Buxi Bazar on July 19
On August 20, a youth died after falling into an open drain at Malgodown Road