A man lost his life after slipping and falling into an uncovered drain near the Salandi Canal Division Colony in Bhadrak.
The deceased has been identified as Akshay Pradhan, a resident of the same colony.
According to preliminary details, the mishap occurred within the premises of the Salandi Canal Division Office. Local sources reported that Pradhan had gone near the drain to pluck drumstick leaves (sajana saga) from a nearby tree. Tragically, he lost his footing and plunged into the deep, open drain.
Because the drain lacked any safety covers or slabs, the fall proved fatal.
Upon receiving information about the incident, the Bhadrak Fire Services team rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. Firefighters successfully retrieved the body from the drain, after which family members identified the victim.
Local police arrived at the scene shortly after, seized the body, and sent it to the hospital for a post-mortem examination. An investigation into the tragic incident is currently underway.
The heartbreaking mishap has triggered severe resentment among local residents, who have strongly blamed administrative apathy and the presence of unprotected, open drains for putting civilian lives at constant risk.
