Tragedy struck during the ongoing Smart City construction work in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, where two workers lost their lives and another was critically injured. The incident occurred today in the Ahiyapur police station area, where sewerage construction was underway.
The deceased have been identified as Md Ikramul (26) from North Pargana and Md Azimul (24) from Malda. The third worker, who was seriously injured, has been admitted to a local hospital for treatment.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident unfolded when two workers descended into the sewerage system and failed to return. Concerned by the lack of movement, a third worker went down to check on them and also became trapped. The situation escalated as attempts to rescue them with a JCB machine proved unsuccessful, causing panic among the local community. The JCB driver initially fled the scene, but another driver was eventually brought in to assist with the rescue.
The local people and laborers expressed outrage over the incident, pointing fingers at the Municipal Corporation and the Smart City project management. They alleged that safety protocols, such as providing life jackets and proper footwear, were not followed, leading to the fatal incident. The workers claimed that this negligence in adhering to safety standards is a recurring issue in the ongoing construction work.
Upon receiving information about the incident, SDPO Town 2 Vinita Sinha confirmed that two workers had died and another was critically injured. She assured that a thorough investigation was underway, with statements being recorded from the surviving worker and witnesses to determine the exact cause of the tragedy.