Daijiworld Media Network - Raichur (SP)

Raichur, Jan 4: A water storage tank built of concrete at the ground level crashed at the Hazarat Jangli Peersab Dargah at Yapaladinni in the taluk on Saturday January 3. As a result, five persons died, while three suffered injuries. The accident occurred during the annual Uroos at the Dargah.

Eresh (29) from Gajagarapete Extension, Jogi Poojary Dharmappa (55) from Thimmapurpete extension, Hussainappa (21) from Gattu in Mehaboobnagar district, Telangana, Shahajahan (30) from Yemmiganur, Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, and JomelMishal (40) fromOdisha lost their lives in the accident.

Hanumanthu (40), Srikanth (14), and Shrishikor (3), who were injured, were admitted into Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences. All of them had come to participate in the Uroos at the Dargah.

Commotion erupted at the Uroos after the accident, with relatives of deceased victims demanding payment of compensation before they could go away from the place. After the policemen intervened, took two into custody, and dispersed the others, the situation was brought into control.

Relating to the incident, the police have registered case against Yapaladinni village development officer, Channamma, president of the panchayat, Laxmipathi Thimmappa, contractor, Veeresh Reddy, gram panchayat member, Veeresh, junior engineer, Niranjan, and asisstant executive engineer, Prakash.

Acting deputy commissioner, Sasikanth Senthil, suspended both Channamma and Niranjan from service on Saturday, for negligence.

The villagers alleged that the husband of the gram panchayat president had taken construction of this tank with a capacity of 1.6 lac litres on contract for Rs 3.21 lac rupees, and he had given piecemeal contract for the same. They added that the work of building of this huge tankwas completed within 14 days by mostly using sand and less of cement, and without doing curing work as required. They said that investigation into the collapse of such a tank earlier was still in progress.