A Correspondent, Digboi: Fear and concern have gripped pedestrians, especially school children, in the Jasoda area of Digboi due to a half-constructed drain running alongside a busy road, with exposed reinforcement bars protruding dangerously. The 150-meter drain, being built by a local contractor under the supervision of a Public Works Department (PWD) engineer, has remained incomplete for several months near a shopping mall and Balika Vidya Mandir school. Residents and shopkeepers have raised alarms over the hazardous condition, warning that exposed rods and the open drain pose serious risks of injury or even impalement. “One of the children had a narrow escape falling into the drain recently,” said a local barber. Passersby and workers are at constant risk of tripping, falling, or sustaining severe injuries. When approached for comment, the Assistant Engineer overseeing the project appeared uninformed, stating, “I have no knowledge about it, I have to check,” raising questions about project supervision. Locals allege that an incompetent engineer was appointed by the PWD, contributing to the ongoing negligence. Concerns also extend to the structural integrity of the project, as prolonged exposure of the reinforcement bars to weather has caused corrosion, weakening the rods and jeopardizing the durability and safety of the drain once completed. Additionally, the stagnant water in the incomplete drain has turned into a breeding ground for mosquitoes and pests, raising public health fears of diseases like dengue and malaria. Nearby residents and shopkeepers have urged the district administration to either speed up the completion of the drain or at least cover and secure the exposed sections to protect the public from potential accidents and health hazards.
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