Assam: Three BIPL Officials Arrested After Child’s Death in Uncovered Drain

Guwahati: Assam Police apprehended three officials from Bhartia Infra Projects Ltd (BIPL) following the tragic death of a three-year-old boy who fell into an uncovered drain in Kalapahar, Guwahati.

The arrests were made within 40 hours of the incident, prompted by a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the boy’s father, who accused the company of gross negligence.

The detained officials are Avinash Bhatia, Director of BIPL; Kaushik Gogoi, Safety Engineer; and Prasannajit Pathak, Deputy Project Manager.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Padmanabh Barua confirmed that the drain construction was overseen by the Public Works Department (PWD), and CCTV footage recorded the fatal incident. Public outrage intensified as the drain remained uncovered even 40 hours after the tragedy.

This marks the second safety-related incident linked to BIPL. Last month, a man reportedly died due to electrocution at another BIPL project site, with an ongoing investigation following an FIR. Residents have alleged that the company only covers drains after receiving additional payments, a claim the police have vowed to investigate thoroughly.

The DCP said that contractors must prioritise public safety, stating, “Development projects cannot come at the cost of human lives.”

It may be mentioned that several areas in Guwahati are filled with open drains, which pose a significant threat to people. These open drains pose even a greater threat when it rains in the city.