BENGALURU: A 32-year-old project inspector was severely injured after he got stuck on an escalator in Chickpet Metro station during a test run on Saturday.
Alagappan, a native of Tamil Nadu, works as a project inspector for a private escalator agency. Four technical engineers were testing the escalator for technical glitches.
Around 5.30pm, Alagappan and another inspector were standing on the escalator as it moved down. As the foot plates were open, Alagappan slipped into it and his right leg got stuck. Two workers fell on Alagappa. But as the escalator continued to move, his leg got fractured.
When other workers noticed the men, they switched off the power supply and stopped the escalator. Alagappa was admitted in St John’s Hospital.
Ramesh, a project inspector, said the project engineers belonged to a private escalator agency and they had taken all precautionary measures. Alagappan slipped despite holding the support bar. “There is no fault with the mechanism,” he said.
A Metro staff member said, “The project inspectors had a deadline to submit their report on a newly-installed escalator that was not working. A team of engineers were trying to fix it. Senior officials were attending the inauguration while some junior staffers were taking a break when the accident took place.”
Surekhan, a co-worker, said, “Alagappan was testing the escalator while I along with tele-callers were busy in the operation. He started screaming as his leg got stuck in the escalator.” A case has been filed.
The incident was recorded on CCTV camera and officers are verifying it.