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The victim, Sangappa, died when a wall he was demolishing collpased on him
Metro works claim one more life near Lalbagh
Bangalore,DH News Service:
The construction work of ‘Namma Metro’ in the City, claimed another life here on Wednesday, the fifth this year. Earlier too, lives have been lost and workers and watchmen injured while carrying out construction activity for the project.
Sangappa (23), a native of Bellary was a labourer employed by Binyas, a contractor entrusted with demolition of properties for the Bangalore Metro project. He died after sustaining injuries when a wall he was demolishing, near Lalbagh West Gate, Reach 4 (K R Road to R V Road Terminal) collapsed on him.
He was immediately rushed to the Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), where he was declared brought dead. The compound wall of the building bearing No 87, is owned by Ramachandra.
Senior Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials who visited the scene of the accident, expressed regret about the loss of another life, during construction of the multi-crore project. “A compensation / insurance package is built in the contract by the BMRCL. As per rules, the victim will be paid a sum of Rs 5 lakh,” said a official.
Safety aspect not ignored
On whether, any safety aspect has been ignored/neglected, BMRCL officer and deputy chief engineer B L Yashavanth Chavan said, all necessary measures had been taken. “Every worker is provided with a helmet and rubber shoes and has been given training on safety aspects while going about their work. Despite this, accidents take place. They cannot be predicted in advance. All of us at BMRCL are saddened over another life lost while carrying on the project,” he added. The past haunts Metro
In the last six months, the Namma Metro project has recorded four accidents, claiming two lives and injuring four. In December 2008, a crane toppled onto a pit dug for laying a pier/pillar leading on CMH Road, in Indiranagar. However, there were no injuries reported. But the second time around, an accident claimed the life of a 20 year-old security guard who came under the wheels of an earthmover on Mahatma Gandhi Road-Brigade Road junction on January 11.
A few days later, four workers were injured during a demolition operation in Rajajinagar I Block on January 29, when a wall fell on them. Again, on May 23 a worker died in another demolition when a building wall collapsed on him on Mahakavi Kuvempu (MKK) Road in Rajajinagar.
By providing helmet, safety boots only safety factors are not complied. There are issues like proper training to all work force prior to commencement of a particular task, planning of each operation etc are required.
Proper type/model of earth moving machines required for demolition must be used/deployed along with man power. There is limitation for deploying labors for demolition work.
I have observed that earth moving machines deployed on the construction sites are obsolete models, below the capacity and not modern types when compared to international standards. Eg: Back-hoe loaders are used for all types of digging/scooping/loading operations whereas higher capacity loaders are required on mancy sites. Same back-hoe loader mounted cranes are used instead of heavy duty mobile cranes. Out-dated drilling machines are also used.
We are playing with the life of labor force at construction sites.
