Odisha culvert collapse: Ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each handed over to five deceased’s next of kin

Rayagada: Law Minister Jagannath Saraka today handed over the ex-gratia cheques of Rs 4 lakh each to the deceased’s next of kin, who died due to a culvert collapse on July 31 in Odisha’s Rayagada.

The cheques were given in the presence of District Collector Swadha Dev Singh and several others. Family members of the five deceased burst into tears while receiving the ex-gratia from Minister Saraka.

It is pertinent to mention, the tragic mishap was reported from Kalyansinghpur block of the district in which at least five persons including four children died after a section of an under-construction culvert caved in. The fatal incident took place in Uparasaja village of the block at around 11.00 am.

The culvert which is being constructed by Rayagada Rural Development department caved in when the children were taking bath in a creek in the morning and went near the concrete structure.

On being informed, local police and fire services personnel had reached the mishap site and launched a debris-clearing drive. Later, expressing deep grief over the loss of five lives in the incident, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia each for next of kin in the bereaved families. The CM also ordered to take strong action against the persons responsible for the fatal mishap.