Officials jailed for dam burst

Betul, MP, Dec 29 (UNI) A district court has sentenced ten officials, including the then executive engineer of the Water Resources Department, to six months' imprisonment and fines of Rs 600 each in a case relating to a dam burst near Multai.

On July 30, 1991, the Chandora Dam burst as the sluice gate was not opened in time during heavy rain. An old woman died in the ensuing chaos.

Multai's Judicial Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Dubey yesterday sentenced the then executive engineer R D Vishwakarma, assistant engineers R K Bhalerao, Kishore Kekre and P K Mehta, sub-engineers U R Khanna, S K Gadkari, H S Bais and N K Meena besides Jugal Kishore and Bhola Tapvade.

In August 1991, a departmental inquiry led to the officials' suspension. Later, a case was filed under sections 304(a) and 287 of the Indian Penal Code.

UNI XC-AC 2124