KOLLAM: Three women employees of the Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd (KMML) were killed and around 40 persons injured after an iron walkway across the TS Canal, near Chavara, here collapsed on Monday. The walkway, which has the capacity to hold only 50 persons at a time, stood inside the compound of KMML connecting the main plant with the mineral separation (MS) unit across the TS Canal.
The deceased are Shyamala Devi Amma, 56, of ‘Kairali’, Vadakkumthala; Angela Christopher, 47, of ‘Philomena Mandiram’, Mekkad; and R Annamma, 37, of ‘G G Win Villa’, Mekkad.
According to local accounts, the incident took place around 10.30 am after a group of protesters in front of the KMML main office entered the walkway along with MS Unit staffers. Unable to bear the overload, the walkway got twisted, uprooting its base at the western side resulting in the collapse of the bridge and throwing people into the canal below.
L10 L each to kin of deceased
Minister J Mercykutty Amma, who visited the accident spot, declared a solatium of `10 lakh each to the bereaved families of the three women. The government has also decided to bear the medical expenses of those under treatment at hospitals.
“Shyamala Devi is the first victim of the accident. Though we rushed her to the Karunagapally taluk hospital, she was declared ‘brought dead’. In the evening, we were able to fish out two more bodies, taking the toll to three. The iron rods pierced the bodies of victims. The injured were admitted to various hospitals with wounds caused by the iron rods,” said a Fire Force Officer with the Karunagapally station.
“The walkway was constructed by Steel Industries Kerala Ltd on 2001. Since then its maintenance was taken care of by the steel company. The capacity of the walkway is 50 persons. On Monday around 80 to 100 people entered it at the same time which led to its collapse,” said a KMML officer.
Dismissing allegations on KMML’s callousness to repair the walkway, the officer said the SILK had replaced the walkway in 2014 and the incident took place at a time when KMML has floated an order for the ‘ordinary maintenance’ of the walkway.
The KMML said it would bear the hospital expenses of all the victims, besides compensating the family of the deceased women who were also KMML employees.
Meanwhile, N K Premachandran MP has demanded a comprehensive probe into the accident.
Probe 0rdered: Industries Minister A C Moideen has ordered a probe into the death of the three employees of KMML. Industries additional chief secretary Paul Antony has been assigned with the probe. The minister has asked the company to rebuild the bridge using its funds. The government will consider giving employment to the dependants of the deceased.