Bhadrak, Aug 19: A major accident was narrowly avoided on Monday during an official event in Odisha's Bhadrak district, after a portion of the stage collapsed just minutes after Governor Dr. Haribabu Kambhampati stepped down.
The incident occurred amid a sudden spell of heavy rainfall, which is believed to have weakened the temporary structure. According to sources, the rear side of the stage gave way with a loud crash shortly after the Governor and other dignitaries exited the platform.
Governor Kambhampati is currently on a two-day visit to Bhadrak. Earlier in the day, he visited a women producers' group and inspected an industrial park in Kadabarang. He later arrived at the venue to attend a scheduled meeting with local officials and stakeholders.
Present on the stage at the time were the Bhadrak District Collector, local MLA, Higher Education Minister, and the DIG of Eastern Range. The program was underway when heavy rains began to lash the area.
Anticipating potential risk, the Governor and other dignitaries moved to the nearby office of the Women’s Federation, where discussions continued. Mere minutes later, the stage partially collapsed, but no injuries were reported.
Authorities have launched an inquiry into the structural failure. Had the collapse occurred earlier, officials say the outcome could have been catastrophic.
