A tragic incident occurred at Shailabala Women’s Autonomous College in Cuttack on Saturday, where a 20-year-old construction worker, Sujay Kumar from Bihar, lost his life after falling from the sixth floor of an under-construction building.
The accident has sparked outrage over the lack of safety measures at the site, with preliminary investigations pointing to the absence of essential protective equipment for workers.
The incident took place during ongoing expansion work at the college. The project involves constructing a multi-story building, including a hostel and staff quarters, near the Chandi Temple within the college premises. On Saturday, Sujay was engaged in tying iron rods for the sixth-floor roof slab when he suddenly lost his balance and fell. Despite being rushed to the hospital in critical condition, he was declared dead on arrival.
According to the Cantonment Police, who responded promptly to the scene, the worker’s body was sent to SCB Medical College for a postmortem, scheduled for Sunday due to the late hour. Initial inquiries suggest that extreme heat and humidity may have contributed to the accident, potentially causing dizziness that led Sujay to lose his footing. However, the absence of safety gear, such as helmets and life jackets, has emerged as a critical factor. Other workers at the site confirmed to the police that they were working without any protective equipment, a serious violation of construction safety norms.
Following the incident, construction work at the site has been halted, and the contractor’s supervisors and staff reportedly fled the scene. No senior officials from the contracting firm or college authorities have issued a statement, raising questions about accountability.
The Cantonment Police, led by Station Officer Yatindranath Sethi, have launched an investigation, questioning eyewitnesses and other workers to ascertain the exact circumstances of the tragedy. The police have also contacted Sujay’s family in Bihar.
