Cuttack: The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) announced Wednesday an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the family of the minor girl who died Tuesday after suffering serious injuries due to the collapse of an old iron bridge here. The financial assistance was announced by CMC Mayor Subash Chandra Singh. The development came after Singh was prevented from meeting the family of the deceased. He also faced protests from local residents when he visited the accident spot.
Facing backlash from the local residents, Singh ordered the putting up of information signages at all construction sites in the city. He also asked officials to provide security guards and the barricading sites where constructions are currently on.
Orders have also been given to check all old structures and cover all open drains in this city. Sixteen-year-old Mohini Das who died in the mishap was a resident of Nua Rausapatana locality in the city. She was a Plus II student at Emarti Devi Women’s College. The mishap occurred at Gamadia locality of Kesarpur under Puri Ghat police limits. The victim was crossing the bridge when it collapsed leading to her death. “The mishap occurred due to the apathetic attitude of local administration,” some of the residents said Wednesday. “Had the administration rescued the girl promptly, she could have been saved,” they added.