BENGALURU: A 24-year-old Metro worker fell to his death at a construction site of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) here on Thursday evening. The incident occurred in Upparpet police station limits.
The deceased has been identified as Anand Kumar, who was employed by Tiwary Electrical, a sub-contractor of Blue Star Limited. The accident occurred around 7 pm when he slipped and fell about 25 feet and sustained serious injuries.
This is the second death reported this month at Majestic Underground Metro Station, where construction is in progress. The station is part of the North-South underground corridor between Majestic and Chikpet.
On December 6, a 24-year-old construction worker was killed on the spot around 2 am, after a lorry ran over him while reversing. The truck driver was said to be overworked . The deceased Santhosh Oran was as a native of Jharkhand.
According to a BMRCL release, the deceased Anand Kumar was “moving in Environmental Control System (ECS) plant room at the concourse level when he slipped and fell down”. Even though Anand was rushed to the St Martha’s Hospital, he succumbed to the injuries. Anand was from Uttar Pradesh and was employed as an electrician.
Project Manager at the site, Shaik Fayazb said he was out of town and not clear about what exactly happened.
Sathish Babu, Safety Manager at Blue Star Ltd, claimed there was no violation of safety standards. “I checked with our safety officer. From the safety point of view, it has been perfect and fine”. When asked about how he could call the safety aspect fine when the second such death was taking place in the underground corridor, Fayaz said, “Sometimes it happens. There are many cut-outs made in the course of work and they are all covered with plywood. The cut-out is in good condition and the plywood covering it has also not collapsed. The electrician slipped fell when crossing over from one cut-out to another.”
Following the death, BMRCL authorities announced “an immediate payment of `50,000 to the family to meet the immediate needs.” Anand’s wife and parents have been informed and the sub-contractor is making arrangements for their journey to Bengaluru and all other arrangements regarding the same, BMRCL said.
BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola was not reachable for his comments. Public Relations Officer U R Vasant Rao, added, “The compensation is just an interim payment by BMRCL. The contractor would have insured the worker. This amount is just to help the family until the compensation arrives.”
Past Incidents
August 24, 2015: 21-year-old Dilip Manjhi from Jharkhand was crushed to death near KR Market underground station. He was trying to steady a steel load when he lost balance and fell
September 23, 2013: A 33-year-old construction worker, Kamalesh Buyi, died after he fell from a staircase at Nagasandra Metro Station, on Hesarghatta main road
July 2013: Supervisor Govinda Raj (47) died at Peenya Junction when a crane dropped an iron frame on him.
June 2013: An electrical worker who suffered a fall when fixing lights at the Sriramapuram station succumbed to injuries later
August 9, 2011: Crane crashes into compound wall of Harishchandra Ghat on Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Road
August 3, 2011: Assistant electrical engineer Bijush (45) was injured after an iron rod fell on him while he was repairing a cement pumping equipment at a Metro site near BHEL Circle on Mysore Road
March 2011: A worker was run over by a lorry owned by a private company engaged for Metro work
August 29 2010: Crane falls on a car carrying eight people in Vijayanagar, but all escape unhurt
October 2009: Steel equipment hit a young worker, who later succumbed to injuries
May 2009: A portion of a wall collapsed on a man, killing him
January 10, 2009: Moving crane crushed to death an 18-year-old security guard, Ropankar Goswami, on MG Road
December 15, 2008: While workers were on duty, crane crashed on a pavement on CMH Road. No one injured
August 14, 2008: Portion of a girder fell off a crane on Old Madras Road. Some people were injured in the mishap
Among the injuries reported are those of a worker who lost his palm in 2011 and another, his right arm the following year. In 2009, the steel cage of a pillar gave way, injuring two. Four others suffered injuries the same year