Guwahati, 23rd September: An incident in Guwahati’s Hengerabari area has highlighted concerns about the negligence of officials involved in Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded projects in the city. A young man, Mantu Deka, fell into an uncovered dugout pit while walking home on Thursday night. He was subsequently admitted to Dispur Polyclinic for medical treatment due to injuries sustained in the fall.
Tragically, on Saturday morning, Deka passed away, raising questions about the treatment he received at the hospital. Allegations suggest that he died as a result of incorrect medical treatment, leading to calls from his family for strict action against both JICA and the hospital authorities for negligence.
While the exact cause of Deka’s death is still under investigation, the incident once again underscores the importance of addressing safety concerns related to JICA-funded projects. In a similar incident earlier this year, a schoolgirl lost her life when the two-wheeler she was riding on lost control and tripped over an open dugout. Eyewitnesses pointed out that the presence of such dug-up pathways in the area contributed significantly to the tragic accident.