A devastating accident struck the Khan Nagar area of Cuttack when a crane collapsed during the construction of a bridge, claiming the lives of three labourers and leaving two others in critical condition.
According to reports, the crane was being used for the ongoing bridge construction when it suddenly gave way, trapping workers beneath its wreckage. Emergency response teams rushed to the scene, but despite their efforts, Soumya Ranjan Mallick, Shibashankar Patnaik and Subash Chandra Bhakta succumbed to their injuries. The two surviving workers, identified as Arun Barik and Shukhil Jen, were immediately admitted to a nearby hospital, where they are currently battling for their lives.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. In a statement released via the official CMO Odisha X handle, the Chief Minister extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. “I am deeply saddened by the incident in Khan Nagar, Cuttack,” the statement read. “My thoughts are with the bereaved families, and I pray for the swift recovery of those injured.”
In response to the accident, CM Majhi announced financial assistance of ₹5 lakh for the families of each deceased worker, to be disbursed from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF). Additionally, the Chief Minister directed authorities to ensure free medical treatment for the injured workers, emphasising the state’s commitment to their recovery.
The incident has also prompted the Chief Minister to order a thorough investigation into the cause of the crane collapse.
କଟକ ଖାନ୍ ନଗରରେ ବ୍ରିଜ୍ ନିର୍ମାଣ ସମୟରେ ଅଘଟଣ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @MohanMOdisha ଦୁଃଖ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିଛନ୍ତି। ଏଥିରେ ପ୍ରାଣ ହରାଇଥିବା ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଙ୍କ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଗଭୀର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ସମସ୍ତ ଆହତଙ୍କ ଆଶୁଆରୋଗ୍ୟ କାମନା କରିଛନ୍ତି। ମୃତକଙ୍କ ନିକଟତମ ଆତ୍ମୀୟଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ରିଲିଫ…
— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) May 3, 2025