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Dimapur, Aug. 16 (EMN): The Molvom Youth and Students' Union (MYSU) has expressed shock at the demise of two minor students namely Thangsonlun Singson (8 years) and Thongminhao Dimngel (11 years), who reportedly drowned at a stream below Molvom village on August 15 at around 2 pm.
MYSU, in a press release, alleged that the two minors were drowned due to negligence on the part of the workers of Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) constructing railway network which passes through Molvom village.
It alleged that while the workers were continuously engaged in digging and moving earth, building RCC bridges and filling land, they did not follow public safety measures, let alone their own personal safety as required by law while carrying out construction works.
MYSU stated on that fateful day, the duo had gone cycling towards the paddy fields, which also happens to be one of the RCC bridge construction site. The union stated that the foundation of the RCC bridge was built in the same stream where the duo had drowned.
“The stream which used to be relatively small and shallow in the past years, usually knee-deep, was not the same anymore on that day. The site was excavated 16-20 feet deep beneath the stream bed and was never filled up again even after the construction of the foundation was completed, making the stream water accumulate and fill up the entire left out excavated space leading to a 16-20 feet deep standing stream on either side of the RCC bridge which was oblivious to the two young boys,” it alleged.
The union further stated that on preliminary inspection, it was found that there was “no safety fence, notice board, warning signs and even the bank of the stream was cut vertically straight into 16-20 feet deep gorge which may take even an adult by surprise which may in turn lead to drowning.”
MYSU condemned “in the highest terms, the ignorance and negligence on the part of all workers under Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR), who failed to provide safety measures in public vicinity which is punishable under relevant sections of the IPC.”