Two labourers were killed while working on an under-construction project sanctioned by the MMRDA, after being trapped under the debris of a wall that collapsed on Saturday morning. The Kanjurmarg police have registered an FIR against the site supervisor employed by the contractor.
The incident occurred around 9:30 am in the Karve Nagar area of Kanjurmarg. MMRDA officials said construction of an underground water tank was under way for a rehabilitation building, and the labourers were working in a 4.5-metre-deep pit dug for the tank. “The earth on the outside of the retaining wall of the tank caved in while they were carrying out de-shuttering work. Two labourers were trapped,” said MMRDA spokesperson Dilip Kawathkar.
Other labourers at the spot raised an alarm and the fire brigade was informed. Three fire engines, a rescue operation van and two ambulances were rushed in, while the Kanjurmarg police sent several teams to the spot.
One of the two labourers, identified as Inderjit Chauhan, was pulled out from the debris. He was rushed to Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar in an unconscious state where he was declared brought-dead. Debris-clearing operations continued till late on Saturday evening before the second labourer, identified as Mahesh Kumar Chauhan, was rescued. He, too, was declared dead before admission at Rajawadi Hospital.
The Kanjurmag police had initially registered accidental death reports in connection with the deaths. “After completing inquiries, we have registered an FIR of causing death due to negligence against the site supervisor under the Indian Penal Code. Precautions that should have been taken for labourers working in pits were not taken,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Vinay Rathod, Zone VII. The police will now be recording statements of the other construction workers employed by the contractor – M/S Balaji Constructions – and will question the supervisor and the owner of the firm. No arrests have been made.
