The city police arrested two employees of a construction company after an 81-year-old man was critically injured when a crane used by a metro contractor hit the autorickshaw he was travelling in, near the Silk Board flyover on May 22.

URC company had taken a contract of metro construction work. Sarath and Shivakumar, who were in charge of the work, were held responsible for the injuries caused to Anand Rao, a retired BEML employee.

Rao's wife Sowbhagya (75) also suffered minor injuries and filed a complaint with the Suddagunte Palya police, seeking action against those concerned. Rao is kept under observation in ICU with broken bones and severe injuries to head and lungs.

Police said that the construction firm had given a sub-contract of shuttering work to Tarachand company. While placing the shuttering at the ground level, due to a sudden jerk from the crane, the panel hit the barricades and damaged the autorickshaw passing along Marenahalli Road. The top part of the three-wheeler was damaged and Anand Rao injured.

The crane driver and the supervisor fled from the spot soon after the incident.

Tarachand company is based in Chandigarh; its head office is in Mumbai.

Police later arrested the staffers of URC company for negligence. Efforts are on to nab the others.