Delhi Metro steel girder falls in Ghaziabad, seven injured

At least seven people were injured, two of them critical, after a girder at a Metro construction site collapsed in the Mohan Nagar area here on Monday morning. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)'s assistant engineer and junior engineer-in-charge of the site have been suspended while police have registered a case. An FIR has been registered against the construction company.

According to a DMRC official, the incident took place around 10:15 am at the Mohan Nagar Metro station construction site of the Dilshad Garden-New Bus Adda corridor where a steel girder erected for the construction of a Foot Over Bridge (FOB) fell down. The girder smashed an auto-rickshaw and damaged a car and a motorcycle passing through the road below.

The police said that the injured people have been identified Seema (28), Atul Kumar Gaur (30), Raje Gautam (42), Inderjeet (39), Radhey Shyam and Gulzar (28). While Inderjeet (39) was driving the auto rickshaw, Seema, Raje Gautam and Atul were sitting behind. Gulzar was riding the motorcycle.

The victims were rushed to the nearby Narender Mohan Hospital. "All the five were brought to the hospital around 10:30 am. All of them have multiple injuries. Seema has severe head injuries and Atul has a fracture in his leg and some metal pierced through his stomach area. Both of them are being treated in the Intensive Care Unit, Seema is more critical of the two. Gulzar was discharged after first aid while Raje has internal injuries and Inderjeet has a head injury," said Dr Singhal, Casual Medical Officer of Narender Mohan Hospital.

The busy road saw severe traffic congestion caused by curious passers-by following the incident.

"We have removed the project in-charge. Services of the sub-contractor engaged by M/s GYT TPL, the main contractor Ruby Enterprises, have been decided to be terminated. The assistant engineer and junior engineer in charge of the site have been suspended," said a DMRC spokesperson.

Officials of DMRC said that an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh will be given to the seriously injured and an amount of Rs 1 lakh will be given to the ones with minor injuries and the DMRC will take care of the medical expenses of all the injured persons.

The police said based on the complaint filed by one of the victims, a first information report has been registered against the Ruby construction under sections 288 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing buildings), 337/338 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 427 (Mischief, and thereby causing damage to the amount of Rs 50 or upwards).

RS 2LAKH EX-GRATIA

Officials of DMRC said that an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh will be given to the seriously injured and an amount of Rs 1 lakh will be given to the ones with minor injuries and the DMRC will take care of the medical expenses of all the injured persons.

Quotes:

"I was coming from old Ghaziabad with three passengers who were supposed to get down at the Mohan Nagar roundabout which is 100 metre away from where the incident took place. Suddenly the girder fell on us. All of us in the auto were seriously injured. I fell unconscious and gained consciousness in the hospital."
--- Inderjeet, owner and driver of the damaged auto.

" We heard a loud noise from the other side of the road and rushed to the spot. There we saw girder fallen on an auto-rickshaw. We immediately informed the police and helped the victims to get out from the auto."
--- Karan, a witness.

"I was heading to the Ghaziabad district court and had planned to visit the Mohan Nagar temple on the way. I had to drop my plans due to the traffic jam as commuters were busy trying to find out what had happened."
---Mohit Dwivedi, an Indirapuram resident.