Girl crushed to death under steel pipe, NHRC seeks Action taken report on compensation
Bhubaneswar, Sep 4 : The National Human Rights Commission( NHRC) has called for an action taken report in connection with the payment of compensation following the death of a 17-year-old girl who was crushed to death under a steel pipe at a box drain project site in Cuttack.
The NHRC on Monday asked the Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, of Odisha government and the Commissioner of Police, Cuttack to submit the action taken report within six weeks on a petition filed by human rights defender Rabindra Mishra.
According to the petition, the girl was crossing the iron foot over the bridge when she slipped and fell. An MS pipe caved in. The work was carried out by the Water Corporation of Odisha (WATCO).
The Commission had received a report on August 13 from the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cuttack along with other reports.
As per the report it was revealed from the inquiry that on May 30 last at about 3 PM while the deceased was passing under the iron pipe under construction site which is a restricted zone, suddenly a heavy iron pipe fell on the deceased.
As a result she sustained severe injury. She was rescued from the accident spot and shifted to Hospital, but she was pronounced dead at the Hospital.
After the post mortem examination, the relatives of the deceased demanded compensation and after negotiation they were compensated with Rs. 10 lakhs by the concerned officials.
The Commission has perused the report. As per the Police report, the relatives of the deceased were compensated with Rs. 10 lakh by the concerned officers.
The Commission however felt that the Police report was vague on the point to whom the payment was made. The mode of payment and proof of compensation are also missing in the report.
The requisite report called for from the Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development is still awaited.
Hence, the NHRC directed the Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development and the Commissioner of Police, Cuttack to submit a report on the point of compensation within six weeks.
