Safety gear not enough: workers

Labourers working at the accident site in Dwarka said the safety gears provided to them would be of little or no help in case accidents like the one on Friday take place.

“The caps provided to us are made of plastic. They can, at best, protect us against stones falling from above and not heaps of bricks,” said labourer Ranjeet Kumar.

Accidents, though not of Friday’s magnitude, are not uncommon at construction sites across the city. At this site itself, a labourer fractured his hand a few days ago.

“I was carrying a cement sack on June 23 when I slipped in the basement and fractured my hand. The contractor got me admitted to DDU Hospital. Since then, I have been sitting without work,” said Shiv Nath Singh, who hopes to be paid for days he has not worked.

The general safety equipment provided to labourers working in the basement included a pair of boots and helmet. Construction supervisors claimed they insist the labourers don the gear before starting work. They pointed to a few boards at the site, which insist on the same. However, few labourers admitted to putting on the safety equipment during work.

Jitendra had left behind his boots as well as helmet while working when the accident took place.

“Do you think the helmet would have been of any use today [on Friday],” he said justifying himself.

Members of the rescue teams, meanwhile, pointed out that lack of concrete support to keep the mud from sliding off into the basement did the damage.

“The labourers were buried in mud heaps eight to 10 feet high,” said firefighter Manjeet.