Puri: A 52-year-old dairy businessman died after falling into an uncovered drain near Grand Road in Badasankha here, on Tuesday morning.
The victim, identified as Pradeep Chowdhury,fell into the drain while relieving himself around 11 am. His body was discovered by a passerby who alerted Kumbharpada police.
“We recovered the body using a bamboo stick and immediately transported it to the district headquarters hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead,” said sub-inspector Kunal Kumar, who is leading the investigation.
Former councillor Ghanashyam Marddaraj pointed out that several cattle deaths had previously occurred at the same location. “It’s tragic that human life has now been lost due to administrative negligence,” he said.
Executive officer of Puri Municipality, Abhimanyu Behera, said it was the civic body’s responsibility for drain cleaning, he stated that drain coverage and maintenance fall under the purview of the national highway authorities.
“We have informed the NH authorities about this incident and expect prompt action,” Behera told reporters.
Similar fatalities have been reported near the railway station, Red Cross Road, Penthakata, and Shree Jagannath Stadium. The Marine Drive area and the stretch from Pentakata to the helipad continue to have open drains.
The incident is particularly concerning given Grand Road’s popularity among tourists and its high footfall. Police have registered an unnatural death case and are conducting further investigation.