In yet another such incident, a bridge being constructed built under the Biju Setu Yojana of the Rural Development Department collapsed in the district on Sundayinjuring seven labourers.
Sources said the mishap occurred at Dubenpali in Bhedan block when the slabs of the bridge were being laid. The bridge is being built at an estimated cost of `8.50 crore by the Works Department.
Five of the injured labourers have been rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital in a critical condition. It is yet to be ascertained why the bridge collapsed.
Coming close on the heels of the Gurupriya Setu collapse in Malkangiri district and the caving in of the under construction Bomikhal flyover in Bhubaneswar, the incident has raised many eyebrows.
Notably, poor construction and use of inferior quality materials have been blamed for a number of bridge collapse incidents in the State.