A two-year-old boy died in Jhanjhana village under Anandapur subdivision after falling into a deep pit allegedly left uncovered by a company repairing a pipeline under a mega drinking water project.
The child, identified as Anil, son of Arun Khandei, was playing near the pit on Sunday afternoon when he accidentally slipped inside. Family members and villagers searched frantically after he went missing. Later in the evening, they recovered his body from the pit and took it to Anandapur Sub-Divisional Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Locals alleged that the company dug the pit months ago to repair a leakage in the pipeline laid five years earlier, but abandoned the work without covering the site. They said the open pit posed a constant danger to residents.
Villagers blamed negligence by the company authorities for the tragedy and demanded compensation for the bereaved family. They also urged immediate filling of the hazardous pit to prevent further accidents.
Residents further revealed that Anil’s father, Arun Khandei, had suffered serious injuries after falling into the same pit a few months ago and has remained bedridden since then. The incident has triggered anger in the locality, with villagers accusing the company of ignoring safety measures.
Police launched an inquiry into the matter, while locals pressed for accountability and strict action against those responsible.
