Iron girder breaks down, crushes woman to death

Killer crane was torched after incident

A 31-year-old woman was killed after being crushed beneath an iron girder which fell off a crane which was being used for an constructing an underpass near a railway crossing in Sultanpuri, outer Delhi on Tuesday morning, police said.

Taruna, a resident of Baljeet Nagar, along with her father Vijay Kumar and children Mukul and Savita was crossing a railway track near Sultanpuri F-Block.

“The accident took place when workers were launching the girder with the help of a crane around 9.15 am. Taruna and her family members were crossing the railway track from Nangloi side when a heavy girder fell on her,” a police official said.

Her father and children had a narrow escape. Taruna was immediately taken to K K Hospital near Mianwali Nagar, where doctors declared her brought dead.

“She is said to have died due to head injuries and excessive loss of blood. Her body will be handed over to family after a post-mortem at Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital on Wednesday,” the official added.

Soon after receiving information about the accident, Taruna’s relatives and infuriated locals allegedly started stone pelting and torched the crane.

Taruna’s father Vijay told police he had recently shifted to Bajeet Nagar from Sultanpuri F-5 Block. He said that Taruna lived along with her husband Sajneev in Punjab’s Bhatinda district.

“She came to Delhi after her father-in-law expired on Monday, to attend his funeral,” Vijay said.

The railway crossing was closed since 2010 for the proposed underpass’ construction work. Cops, however, say that they will take action against the private contractor and crane driver, who is presently absconding.

A case under sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) and 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code has been lodged at Sultanpuri police station.