Chandikhole: Be it a minister passing by or the CM or PM, fire engines and ambulances are not stranded anywhere.
However, due to the hooliganism of a contractor, two fire engines, on their way to douse flames in a fire mishap site, had to be stranded for more than an hour at Badachana in Jajpur district for as long as one hour.
This has spread resentment among the locals and the fire victims who demanded action against the contractor.
“Had, the fire tender team reached at the fire mishap site on time, the damage would have been reduced to an extent. But, the indifferent attitude of the contractor has now left the fire victims to take shelter in open air in the chilling cold,” an angry local said as he demanded action against the contractor.
According to sources, a fire broke out at Harinatikira village under Darpan tehsil, Tuesday morning. On being informed, two fire engines from Chandikhole headed towards the village.
But, route near Darpan-Siha PWD near the town was piled with earth due to an expansion work. This caused problem for the fire engines, leaving it stranded for an hour. The vans only found their way to the village after one hour when the fire personnel and local villagers cleared the road.
Had the fire engines reached the village a little earlier, the valuables could have been saved,” alleged the villagers.
In spite of this, the contractor had little remorse for obstructing a public road. The earth was still found on the road even after the incident. The whimsical attitude and illegal obstruction of road of the contractor triggered tension among the villagers.
Notably, similar allegations of road obstruction were leveled against the contractor in question in past too. Locals urged the administration to intervene and take steps against the errant contractor.
PNN
