Khaira: An elderly man drowned in a water-filled pit dug inside a murram quarry at Gadapokhari village under Khaira block in Balasore district Friday.
The deceased has been identified as Gopal Dalei (70).
According to reports, Gopal had gone to the secluded quarry which was filled with rainwater to attend nature’s call Friday morning. He accidentally slipped into the deep water and drowned.
Family members grew apprehensive after he did not return home and searched for him after which he was found dead inside the pit. The incident spread tension in the area as locals demanded compensation for the bereaved family.
Angry villagers held the illegal quarry owners of leaving the pit uncovered after extracting murram.
This is the second such death reported from the same venue within last 12 hours. Earlier, a Class V schoolboy had died after falling inside a stone quarry in this area Thursday.
PNN