The spot (encircled in red) from where a concrete chunk of the flyover fell killing a labourer at Rasulgarh in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 4: A construction labourer died when a concrete chunk of an under-construction flyover fell on him at Rasulgarh.

Two labourers were injured in the mishap that took place around 10.30pm last night when there was almost no traffic at an otherwise busy crossing.

Contractual labourer Chunia Samal, 52, died on the spot, while two others — Raju Mana, 32, and Bikram Pradhan, 40, — suffered injury and are admitted at a hospital.

“Last night, when I was passing through the area, I heard a bang. When I rushed to the spot, I saw the portion of a scaffold with concrete mixture lying on the ground. Around half a dozen people were working at the spot,” said Swastik Prusty, an eyewitness.

The incident has raised questions on the safety measures adopted by the construction company.

On July 31 last year, a security guard was killed when an iron plate fell on him at another under-construction flyover at Fire Station Square.

Rasulgarh residents alleged that the agency, entrusted with the flyover construction jobs in the city, has scant regard for the safety norms.

“They are not even using safety nets at the construction sites. After last night’s incident, we are scared of even walking under the flyover,” said local resident Satyabrata Sahani.

The National Highways Authority of India in August 2010 had signed an agreement with Sri Jagannath Expressway Pvt Ltd, a consortium of three private firms (SREI, Simplex and GALFAR) to widen the 67-km Bhubaneswar-Chandikhol section of the Calcutta-Chennai highway. Construction of the flyovers in the city is a part of the road-widening project.

“Often these construction agencies do not barricade the construction sites. Besides, the companies forget to install signages at the sites to help commuters as well,” said another local resident.

In February, a biker had met with an accident at the under-construction flyover near Vani Vihar after he had gone over it as there were no signboards at the place.

Following the incident, police had convened a meeting with officials of the construction companies and directed them to arrange proper illumination, along with signboards, at the construction sites.

Police officials, too, expressed their anguish over lackadaisical attitude of the construction companies.

“Though we have been asking them to complete the construction of the underpass near Satsang Vihar, they are not paying any heed. With delay in construction of the underpass, traffic congestion has become an nightmare for commuters at that stretch,” said a senior police official.

While company officials refused to comment on the incident, a highways authority official said preliminary investigation revealed that last night’s accident took place because a bolt in the scaffolding had come loose.

“We have sought the help of a safety expert, who would conduct an inquiry into the incident. We have asked the construction company to initiate preventive measures to ensure that such mishaps do not recur,” said regional officer (Odisha) of the highways authority L.P. Padhy.