Protests in Guwahati against girl's tragic death

Residents of Uzan Bazar, in the heart of Guwahati, took to the streets to protest against the tragic death of a 13-year-old school girl, after she fell into an open manhole in the pavement.

Sagarika Bora was walking on the pavement of Uzan Bazar on April 12 along with her mother when she suddenly fell inside an uncovered manhole on the pavement. She sustained serious injuries and later died in the hospital on April 19 after battling for her life for nearly a week.

The incident has sparked intense protests as this is not the first such incident in the city.

At least two more people, including a woman, were killed after they fell into open manholes on the pavements of Guwahati.

Every time, the administration makes tall promises to rectify the lapses which ultimately turn out to be mere lip service to quell the public anger.

Though the district administration has issued show-cause notices to the Public Works Department, the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority and the Guwahati Municipal Corporation seeking explanations for the grave lapse that resulted in the death of the young student, the people of Uzan Bazar area on Monday blocked the road in protest.

The protestors demanded immediate action from concerned government officials for the lapse and prevention of unauthorized parking of vehicles on the road side, immediate covering of all the uncovered manholes on the pavements, adequate compensation to victims' families etc.