A tragic accident occurred in Chanabeda village under Khariar block, Nuapada district, where a concrete staircase slab of an under‑construction house suddenly collapsed, crushing a daily wage worker to death.
The deceased has been identified as Rishike Shabar (45), a resident of Ward‑11 under Khariar NAC. He was working at the site of a house owned by a local resident when the incident took place. Reports said Rishike was removing centring plates and supports beneath the staircase when the slab unexpectedly gave way, trapping him under the heavy concrete.
Local workers and villagers rushed to the spot, and the Khariar Fire Service team rescued him from the debris. He was taken to the Khariar Sub‑Divisional Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The incident has cast a pall of grief over the area, as Rishike was the sole breadwinner of his family. Locals blamed the absence of safety measures at construction sites and demanded adequate compensation and justice for the bereaved family.
The house owner termed the accident unfortunate and assured financial assistance. Social activists and intellectuals expressed concern over repeated accidents due to lack of protective gear and safety protocols for workers.
Police officials, including SDPO Upendra Kumar Pradhan and IIC Sumanta Kumar Nayak, reached the spot, pacified the agitated crowd, and sent the body for post‑mortem. An unnatural death case has been registered at Khariar police station, and further investigation is underway.
