A devastating incident in Purnia, Bihar, claimed the lives of five people who drowned in a pit filled with water due to the negligence of a contractor. The event unfolded in the Subhash Nagar area of Ward 24, under the jurisdiction of the Kasba police station. The contractor, involved in a dam construction project funded by the Irrigation Department, had excavated soil from an adjacent field to fill the dam, creating a sizable pit.
Details indicate that a young girl named Gauri Kumari went near the pit and fell in. Her mother, Sulochana Devi, attempted to rescue her but also became submerged. Other individuals tried to help, but three of them drowned, along with the mother and daughter. The deceased were identified as 9-year-old Gauri Kumari, 32-year-old Sulochana Devi, 18-year-old Sachin Kumar, 19-year-old Shekhar Kumar, and 20-year-old Karan Kumar.
The incident caused a wave of sorrow in Kasba. Rescue teams were deployed to retrieve the bodies, which were taken to Purnia Medical College. District Magistrate Anshul Kumar visited the medical college, met with the bereaved families, and dispatched a team to investigate the scene.
According to local resident Durgesh Kumar, the contractor had been excavating soil, resulting in a pit approximately 25-30 feet deep. The pit filled with rainwater, and the depth was not immediately apparent. Durgesh Kumar placed the blame on the contractor.
Congress MLA Afaq Alam, who arrived at the site, strongly criticized the government’s handling of the situation, calling it ‘murder.’ He mentioned that he had previously communicated his concerns regarding the improper construction to the authorities, including the Executive Engineer of the Irrigation Department, but they were disregarded. He highlighted the lack of proper signage and the flawed construction methods, with soil being excavated from the adjacent area instead of being brought to the dam site.
District Magistrate Anshul Kumar confirmed that post-mortem examinations would be conducted and that the government would provide financial aid to the affected families. He also stated that an engineering team would investigate the matter, and those responsible would be held accountable.