Kota: Retd school principal dies after falling into under-construction drain, 3 engineers suspended

Three Kota Development Authority engineers were suspended and a contractor fined after a 60-year-old man died when his motorbike fell into an under-construction drain in the Borekheda area.

The Kota Development Authority (KDA) on Friday suspended three of its engineers and imposed a penalty of Rs. 17 lakh on the contractor after a retired school principal driving his motorbike fell into an under-construction drain in the Borekheda area and died.

The incident happened on the Baran road late Wednesday night, when 60-year-old Rameshwar Rawal was returning to his home in Subhash Nagar after attending his retirement party.

Rawal had retired in February, and the function was organised on Wednesday.

Although the family had begun searching for Rawal that night, his body was discovered the next day by a passerby, who had noticed a bike stuck in the muddy water.

After the incident came to light, executive engineer Sagar Meena, assistant engineer Lalchand Matoria and junior engineer Vinod Madawat were suspended for negligence, KDA Secretary Mukesh Choudhary said.

''A disciplinary action was also initiated against the three engineers,'' he added.

The contractor tasked with the drain construction work was fined Rs 17 lakhs -- 10% of the contract amount -- for not covering the drain or putting up a cautionary sign, the secretary said.

''Action was taken based on a probe report of a committee headed by the KDA deputy commissioner, who visited the site early Friday morning,'' Choudhary said.

''Attempts are underway to ensure compliance of all safety measures at KDA worksites in the city,'' he added.

Meanwhile, the Borekheda police station circle inspector said a case of accidental death under section 194 of the BNSS was registered.

The retired school principal's death, however, drew sharp reactions from the opposition Congress party.

Lashing out at the state BJP government, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot on X said, ''This news from Kota is heartbreaking. The report that Shri Rameshwar Rawal lost his life due to government negligence is deeply saddening.''.

Leader of the opposition in the state assembly, Tika Ram Jully, also took to X to lambast the ruling dispensation.

''It appears that the BJP government in Rajasthan has truly started treating ordinary people like cockroaches, which is why it has no concern for the loss of human lives,'' Jully said.

''The death of principal Shri Rameshwar Rawal, who reportedly fell into an open drain due to the government's negligence, is extremely tragic. I am fully convinced that there will be no investigation into this murder either, nor will any action be taken against those responsible.''