Bhubaneswar, Oct 18: On Friday, three vehicles became trapped when a large electronic welcome gate, erected by the Khannagar Puja Committee for the Durga Puja festivities, collapsed near the Cuttack Netaji Bus Terminal (CNBT). Fortunately, no casualties were reported, as there were no occupants inside the vehicles at the time of the incident.
Local authorities swiftly blocked the entire road following the collapse, prompting concerns regarding the safety measures implemented during the installation of the structure. Residents indicated that the gate had been erected approximately 15 days prior to the incident. A member of the puja committee speculated that the collapse might have been caused by a heavy vehicle colliding with the gate.
The affected vehicles were parked in a no-parking zone, and according to Prafula Sahu, secretary of the puja committee, one vehicle was reversing when it inadvertently struck the structure, leading to its collapse. Efforts are currently underway to clear the road and restore normal traffic flow in the area.