A tragic event in Purnia, Bihar, resulted in the deaths of five individuals who drowned in a water-filled pit created by a contractor’s negligence. The incident occurred in Subhash Nagar, Ward 24, within the Kasba police station area. A dam construction project, funded by the Irrigation Department, was underway, and the contractor excavated soil from a nearby field to fill the dam, resulting in a large pit.
According to reports, a young girl, Gauri Kumari, was near the pit when she slipped and fell in. Her mother, Sulochana Devi, attempted to rescue her but also became submerged. Several others jumped in to help, but while some managed to escape, three rescuers and the mother and daughter drowned. The victims were identified as Gauri Kumari (9 years old), Sulochana Devi (32 years old), Sachin Kumar (18 years old), Shekhar Kumar (19 years old), and Karan Kumar (20 years old).
The incident caused widespread shock and grief in Kasba. Teams were deployed to recover the bodies, which were then taken to Purnia Medical College. District Magistrate Anshul Kumar visited the college and spoke with the families before sending a team to the site to investigate.
Local resident Durgesh Kumar explained that the contractor had been excavating soil day and night, creating a pit approximately 25 to 30 feet deep. Heavy rainfall filled the pit with water, and the true depth was not apparent. Durgesh Kumar held the contractor accountable.
Congress MLA Afaq Alam, who visited the scene, condemned the government, stating that the incident was not an accident but a ‘murder’ due to the improper construction practices. He claimed to have previously alerted the authorities, including the Executive Engineer of the Irrigation Department, about the issues, but they were ignored. He highlighted the lack of proper signage and the flawed method of taking soil from an adjacent area for the dam.
District Magistrate Anshul Kumar confirmed that post-mortem examinations would be performed and that the government would provide assistance to the families, including financial aid. He stated that a team of engineers would investigate and that those found responsible would face consequences.
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