4 die as scaffolding collapses in Noida
NOIDA: Four workers were killed and at least five were grievously injured after the scaffolding on an 18-storey under construction building collapsed in Sector 94 on Sunday morning.
Eyewitnesses said the incident took place around 10.30am when a tractor trolley carrying construction material crashed into the base of the scaffolding at a project being carried out by the Business Park Town Planners (BPTPs)
“We heard a loud sound. When we looked down, the entire scaffolding had collapsed. We could see a tractor buried under the iron rods which were supporting the scaffolding,” said Chhote Lal, a worker at the site.
An emergency task force was called in for the rescue operation which lasted for nearly half an hour. The injured were taken to the district hospital. The deceased have been identified as Karan, 27, Vijay Pal, 26, Ram Vijay Kumar, 19 and the tractor driver, Naushad, 27.
City magistrate Shailendra Mishra said the cause of the accident was being investigated. “There are two theories at the moment. The accident could either be a result of the tractor crashing into the scaffolding or the holding pins coming loose. The project in-charge has updated us with these details and the matter is under investigation,” Mishra said.
He said that all the workers were registered and insured. “Based on their ages and other factors, the due compensation will be calculated and their families will be given the amount as per the law,” Mishra said.
Amit Kumar Singh, station house officer, Sector 39 police station, said an FIR has been registered against the construction company, which had been contracted by BPTP. “The FIR has been registered against the construction company, Ahluwalia Contracts (India) Limited. No arrests have been made yet,” Singh said.
The case has been registered under Sections 304A (causing death by negligence), 288 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing buildings) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by endangering life or safety of others) of the IPC.
Police officials also said that while some of the labourers were wearing safety helmets, none of them had any safety harness on. Nor were there safety nets in place, said police. HTC