Kantamal: Three persons were killed and two others injured as the wires of an overhead crane snapped at the under construction Bagha irrigation project site in Boudh district Monday.
While one person died on the spot, two others died in a hospital. Two others were admitted to Sonepur district headquarters hospital and later shifted to Burla-based VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research.
The deceased were identified as Bhima Muduli, Ramadas Muduli and Kunu Khura of Auliguma in Nabarangpur district.
The critically injured were identified as Debjani of Mahulpatna in Kalahandi district and Krushna Sethy of Thakurgad in Angul district.
The incident occurred while a repairing work was underway on the Sagada barrage gate with the help of a crane. The labourers were standing on the crane and were fixing iron plates on the gate. Meanwhile, the crane hit the column of the barrage after its driver lost control.
The iron plates and the crane fell off from the barrage deep into the river. At least 17 workers engaged in the work tried to flee in a bid to save their lives. Unfortunately, five workers who were standing on the crane failed to rescue themselves.
Ramdas fell into the river and went missing. On learning the incident, a team of Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) along with fire brigade personnel reached the spot and recovered his body.
Bhima and Kunu breathed their last while they were being admitted to Sonepur DHH. Boudh collector Madhusudan Mishra and SP B Gangadhar pressed a police force into the rescue operation.
Sonepur SP Prafull Kumar Patra and Sonepur collector Dashrathi Satapathy reached the hospital and enquired the health condition of the injured.
Preliminary investigation revealed lack of proper safety measures and negligence by the department concerned were the reasons behind the mishap.
While the repairing work was undertaken by Orissa Construction Corporation (OCC), the work was going on without the presence of an expert.
Besides, no engineers of the irrigation department were present during the work. The workers were not provided safety gear.
District labour officer Arun Kumar Ray ordered a probe into the incident. Compensations will be provided to the bereaved families, he said adding action will be taken against the construction firm and the officials concerned after the probe. PNN