Bareilly Municipal Corporation Seeks Rs 500 Crore to Cover Drains After Fatal Incident
In the wake of a tragic incident where a 30-year-old man lost his life after falling into an open drain, the Bareilly Municipal Corporation has announced a significant initiative to enhance public safety. The civic body plans to formally request approximately Rs 500 crore from the Uttar Pradesh state government to fund a comprehensive project aimed at covering all open drains across the city.
Municipal Commissioner Announces Inquiry and Funding Proposal
Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Kumar Maurya confirmed that an official inquiry has been constituted to thoroughly investigate the lapses that led to the unfortunate event. "We are committed to identifying the exact failures in maintenance and oversight," Maurya stated. "Simultaneously, we will propose that the state government allocate substantial funds to systematically cover these hazardous open drains. The estimated cost ranges between Rs 300 to 500 crore, and the work can be executed in phased stages to ensure efficiency."
As an immediate precautionary measure, the corporation has begun installing prominent caution boards at vulnerable locations to alert pedestrians and prevent further accidents until permanent covers are installed.
Details of the Tragic Incident at Satellite Bus Terminal
The incident occurred on Tuesday night at the bustling Satellite bus terminal in the Baradari area. Mohd Tauheed, a 30-year-old resident of Shahabad in Hardoi district, accidentally slipped into the uncovered drain around 9:30 PM. Despite swift response from authorities, his body was recovered nearly 30 hours later on Thursday, following an extensive and challenging search operation.
The rescue mission involved approximately 80 dedicated workers from various agencies. However, their efforts were severely hampered by several critical factors:
- The drain's considerable depth of around 15 feet.
- Heavy accumulation of garbage and debris within the sewer.
- Fast-flowing water that complicated navigation and recovery attempts.
Local Concerns and Previous Warnings Ignored
Local residents have expressed outrage and concern, revealing that the specific drain had remained dangerously uncovered since May of the previous year. "A concrete slab was damaged during a routine cleaning campaign last May, and it was never repaired or replaced," a community member reported. This negligence persisted despite warnings from the transport department officials, who had formally flagged the issue to the municipal body. Unfortunately, no corrective action was taken in response to these alerts, highlighting a significant gap in municipal responsiveness and infrastructure maintenance.
The tragic death of Mohd Tauheed has underscored urgent public safety issues in urban infrastructure management. The Bareilly Municipal Corporation's proposed funding request represents a critical step toward preventing similar incidents, emphasizing the need for proactive measures and accountability in civic administration.
