GUWAHATI: The Guwahati Metropolitan Drinking Water and Sewerage Board has taken swift action following the tragic accident that occurred in Guwahati's Ganeshguri area, resulting in the loss of a student's life. On Friday, the board filed a First Information Report (FIR) against AK Construction Company, a Borewell Contractor based in Guwahati, due to their negligence and discrepancies in their work.
AK Construction Company is currently involved in construction projects at 12 different locations within the city. However, the Jal board has identified irregularities in their work, which has raised concerns. Specifically, it has been observed that the construction company failed to fill potholes after completing their work and neglected to install slabs to cover manholes in the designated areas.
An official emphasized that strict actions will be taken against such agencies, and no contractor will be exempted if discrepancies are found in their work. The authorities are determined to hold responsible parties accountable for any negligence that jeopardizes public safety.
“Action will be taken against such agencies and no contractor will be able to escape if discrepancies are found in their works,” an official said.
The unfortunate incident took place when a class 11 student from Little Flower School fell into a manhole that had been dug for pipe laying by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and was located beneath the path of a passing school bus. Tragically, the student lost her life at the scene. One contributing factor to the accident, as highlighted by local residents, was the absence of barricades around the hole, which exacerbated the congestion on the already crowded road. Additionally, the high speed of the bus was also mentioned as a contributing factor.
It is worth noting that AK Construction Company is one of the contractors working on the JICA-supported water supply project responsible for installing pipelines in Guwahati. The recent FIR against the company signifies the authorities' determination to ensure that contractors fulfill their obligations diligently and prioritize public safety.
This incident serves as a wake-up call for the authorities to implement stricter measures to prevent such accidents from occurring in the future. It underscores the importance of proper safety precautions, including the timely filling of potholes and the installation of adequate barriers around construction sites. The Guwahati Metropolitan Drinking Water and Sewerage Board, along with other relevant agencies, will undoubtedly take proactive steps to address these concerns and prevent similar incidents from happening again.
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