Bhubaneswar: Union Minister Srikant Jena on Thursday declared assistance of Rs 5 lakh from his MPLAD fund for construction of the collapsed Anganwadi Centre at Suansia village in Nayagarh district that claimed seven lives on Tuesday.

Jena, who visited the village with a team of Congress leaders, also met the bereaved families and handed over cheques of Rs 50,000 each through the Central PSU Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers.

The Congress leaders demanded stern action against the State Government officials responsible for the tragedy. PCC president Niranjan Patnaik and Leader of Opposition in State Assembly were among the party leaders who accompanied Jena to the village.