Girder falls at under-construction Metro station in Gzb, two critical

New Delhi: Eight persons were injured, with two of them fighting for their life, after a steel girder of an under-construction foot overbridge (FOB) at the under-construction Mohan Nagar Metro station site fell on the Mohan Garden intersection in Ghaziabad on Monday morning.

The accident prompted Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to remove a project in-charge of the main contractor and terminate a sub-contractor's services. DMRC has also suspended its assistant engineer and junior engineer, who were in-charge of the site.

In its statement, DMRC said that five people were injured in the accident, while police said that three other people were injured but they did not lodge a complaint and continued on their journey after receiving first-aid.

The incident took place around 10 am when the steel girder, being erected for constructing the FOB, fell on passing vehicles at the under-construction Metro site.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Rakesh Mishra said that an auto-rickshaw passing below was crushed by the girder, containing three passengers Seema (27), Atul Gaur (30) and Raje, and driver Inderjeet, all of whom sustained injuries.

Seema and Garg, admitted in the ICU of Mohan Nagar Hospital, are reported to be in a serious condition.

A bike rider, Gulzar (40), was also injured by the girder.

The DMRC announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs two lakh for the seriously injured and Rs one lakh for those with minor injuries.

Mishra said an FIR was lodged against Rohit, the project manager of the sub-contractor, under Sections 279, 337, 338 and 427 of the IPC.

He further said that three other people travelling in a car, namely Aneesh, Fatima and Mursida, sustained minor injures but did not file a complaint and continued with their journey after receiving first-aid.

After the incident, the Chief Project Manager and General Manager of safety operations rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.

In a statement, the DMRC said that the project in-charge of the main contractor of the concerned Metro station had been removed.

"Services of the sub-contractor engaged by M/s GYT TPL, the main contractor in this particular operation, Ruby Enterprises have been decided to be terminated.

"Show cause notice will be served to the sub contractor for barring them from taking part in any future works of the DMRC," the statement stated.

The medical expenses of all those injured were being taken care of, it further stated.