Bhubaneswar: A man went missing after falling into an open drain near Vani Vihar, raising serious concerns over civic management and urban safety in the city.

According to reports, the victim, identified as Anil Singh, slipped into an uncovered drain while passing through the Vani Vihar area. The incident was allegedly caused by poor visibility and inadequate lighting.

Locals immediately rushed to the spot and attempted to rescue him. Upon being informed, Fire Services personnel launched an operation to trace and pull the man out of the drain. The rescue operation was still underway at the time of filing this report.

The victim is reported to be a ragpicker residing in the Patharabandha slum.

Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das reached the spot and enquired about the incident.

Residents have blamed the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) for alleged negligence, claiming the issue of open drains and uncovered manholes has persisted in the Vani Vihar area for years without effective intervention.

They further pointed out such accidents tend to increase during the monsoon season, yet adequate preventive measures have not been taken. Locals have demanded immediate action to cover open drains and improve safety infrastructure to prevent further loss of life.

Similar incidents in the past have claimed the lives of children and youths in different parts of the city.