Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 10 2010:
In separate cases of drowning two persons, including a boy child have been found dead at Singda and Mayang Imphal areas today.
The victim boy of around four years old was found dead inside water reservoir of Singda Water Treatment Plant, from where drinking water is supplied for residents of imphal areas.
Body of Mangneithang Khongsai alias Robert s/o Thangbem Khongsai was discovered floating inside the water reservoir (pond) at around 11 am today.
It is informed that Robert with another child went out of the residential quarter of Otkhomang Khongsai, an employee of PHED and grandfather of the victim boy.
The Khongsai family is originally from the nearby Kangchup Chingkhong village, where Robert was a nursery student of a local school.
Singda locals alleged negligence of Department authorities for the boy's death and recounted that in March last year a five year old boy namely Saikhom Thanglen s/o Lokok suffered electric shock when he accidentally came in contact with live wire of an electric transformer installed close to the Water Treatment Plant.
Thanglen lost his left arm, they maintained.
Substantiating charges, the locals informed that inspite of the water treatment plant being a 'restricted zone' there is no fencing at the site.
They further conveyed that due to absence of fencing of the residential quarters of the PHED unscrupulous elements taking advantage of the lapse constructed houses in Govt land.
Inspite of the PHE Minister TN Haokip giving assurance that the quarter area would be fenced when the matter was highlighted some times back the same is yet to be translated into action till date.
Pointing out that continuous negligence on the part of the Department authorities had been comprising safety of the residents, the Singda locals desired that relevant works be carried out to prevent human casualties in the future.
Meanwhile, a body which was fished out from Mayang imphal Bengoon section of Imphal Turel (river) at around 7.15 am today bears external injury marks.
The yet to be identified victim is attired in a grey colour trouser and red T-shirt.
Four spasmo proxyvon capsules were found from inside the pocket of the deceased person whose body has been deposited at RIMS morgue by a team of Mayang imphal police station.