Bhubaneswar: Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) today issued a notice to the Commissioner of the civic body in Bhubaneswar (BMC) seeking a detailed report on a recent open drain tragedy that occurred here on June 18, the OSCPCR Chairperson Mandakinee Kar informed.

The child rights body wanted to know from BMC ‘what steps are necessary to be taken to prevent such fatal incidents in the future’.

Besides, OSCPCR also sought clarifications from the Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) Secretary and district administrations concerned over the spread of Diphtheria in Rayagada, Kalahandi, and Koraput.

Meanwhile, BMC Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil said mediapersons, “As you know, the rainy season has already started and we are removing the slabs to clean primary, secondary, and tertiary drains. We are taking adequate steps to completely cover the open drains with chambers and make them safer. We are also trying to complete the entire process maximum within a month.”

“There are a total of around 1,800 kilometre long drains, of which around 27 kilometre long drains are either having slabs or are open. The cleaning of drains is almost complete. We have identified 34 points and barricading of the open drains will be completed in a week,” the Commissioner added.

Worth mentioning, an eight-year-old boy died after he was swept away following heavy rain.