Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Jan 28: A water tank built under the 'Ganga Kalyana' scheme of the government to provide water for irrigation and drinking purposes to hamlets, crashed when water was filled in it for the first time. In this incident, a person lost his life, while the other suffered fracture of the leg. The incident happened at Papemajalu in Ariyadka village in the taluk during the late night on Saturday January 26.

The person whose life was claimed by the substandard tank was Ramesh alias Rama (30), son of Angara and Devaki couple from Papemajalu. Ramesh was the eldest of the three children of the couple. He has left behind his mother, brother, and a sister. His father had died a few years back.

The family of Rama, which depends on wages earned by family members who work as coolies, has become directionless by his death. Madhava, whose nature of injuries is serious, has been hospitalized.

It is said that this tank, which was five feet high and six feet wide, was built six years back, but water had never been pumped into the tank so far. An attempt to fill water into the tank had been made a few months back, but it was found that the wall of the tank had developed cracks. After the cracks were sealed, the strength of the tank had been tested by filling some water into the tank for a few days. As no leakage was found, it had been decided to fill the tank to the brim on Saturday night.

Four young men from the village, who were curious to check the level of water in the tank went near the tank at 11.30 pm. When they were trying to peep into the tank, the wall of the tanks suddenly burst. There is no ladder or steps to reach the tank. As the weight of water inside caused the wall to crash, laterite stones used for the walls hit Ramesh in the chest and leg of Madhava with full force. Immediately the injured were taken to the government hospital here. For advanced treatment, both of them were being taken to Mangaluru when Ramesh breathed his last.

Zilla panchayat member, Anita Hemanath Shetty, taluk panchayat president, Radhakrishna Borkar, gram panchayat president, Savita, panchayat development officer, Padmakumari, panchayat members, Sampya rural police station sub-inspector, Sattivelu, and others visited the spot, examined the site and registered a case.

Panchayat development officer of Ariyadka, Padmakumari, said that the tank was built by social welfare department for the benefit of backward class families living here. Contractor Lingappa had executed the work and it was maintained by colony people. She said that the panchayat is in no way connected with this scheme, and said that in the next action plan of the panchayat, step would be taken to build a new tank.