Jeypore: With the efforts of the Koraput district administration failing to rescue two JCB operators trapped under a heap of boulders at Bariput near B.Singpur forest under Borrigumma block, the distraught family members lost hope and lodged a complaint at Ranigada police outpost.
The two workers— Ghanshyam Guru of Deogarh and Sanjay Dash of Athgarh in Cuttack district— have been stuck under a heap of boulders since May 31. They are presumed dead and their bodies are yet to be recovered.
The families complained against DD Construction Ltd which had engaged the workers without ensuring standard operating procedure norms. They demanded cancellation of the company’s licence due to its inability to protect the lives of workers at the site.
The rescue operation had begun for the second time at Bariput Saturday night in the presence of the Koraput Collector and other senior officials. But the night-long efforts of ODRAF and NDRF teams did not succeed. Later, the district administration engaged a big crane which too was of no use as it could not lift the boulders whose average weight would be around 20-50 tonnes.
The two JCB operators were engaged in earth removal works for the ongoing Telengiri Irrigation project in Bariput. It was 7pm Thursday when a huge mass of earth and rocks caved in, trapping the vehicles and their drivers.
Friday morning, a joint team of ODRAF and fire brigade began the rescue operations. The administration started the efforts Sunday. Meanwhile, the police was on the hunt for the contractor of DD Construction Ltd, absconding after the mishap.
PNN