Tumudibandh: A woman was killed while her daughter-in-law was critically injured after a portion of a school’s wall caved in on them at Baraguda village under Tumudibandh block in Kandhamal district.
The deceased was identified as Draupadi Patra (60) while the injured was Baidei Patra (32).
According to reports, the villagers have been depending on a tube well near the school for their water needs in the absence of alternative sources. They queue up near the school to fetch water. Baidei was pumping water from the tube well while Draupadi was standing by when a portion of the school’s wall caved in on them.
Draupadi was killed on the spot while Baidei suffered critical injuries. On hearing the screams, locals rushed to the spot and rescued Baidei. They alerted the local BDO who sent an ambulance to ferry Baiei to Tumudibandh community health centre (CHC).
However, the ambulance was yet to reach the village at the time of filing of this report. Due to severe rain over the last few days, the remote village has become inaccessible, locals said. The school was running from an old and dilapidated building, they said, adding incessant rain has made its walls weak.
They villagers alleged the administration pays no heed to their problems. They warned of an agitation and sought compensation for the bereaved from the administration.PNN
