Two killed as shed collapses

Two persons were killed early on Monday when heavy rods came crashing on them at the site of an exhibition next to NTR Park.

Several people were working to set up a shed for a handicrafts exhibition around 2 a.m. when the accident occurred. According to the Saifabad police, the rods, around 3 metres in height and heavy, fell on 45-year-old Veer Prasad of Lucknow and Saleem of Hyderabad. Two others suffered injuries.

The men were rushed to a hospital but were declared dead on arrival. The police said a case of negligence resulting in death was registered against Yusuf Band Company, which is tasked with setting up the exhibition for the DWCRA, the exhibitor. The exhibition was scheduled to open on September 14.

“The men were setting up a shed when the rods came crashing down on them. We found that the soil where the rods were installed was loose. The supporting base of the rods gave away, causing them to fall,” Saifabad Additional Inspector B. Narahari said.

“The deceased suffered severe injuries due to the weight of the rods. One person also sustained serious injuries while another was discharged from hospital after simple treatment,” he added.

The police said cases were registered against the men’s employer as the latter had failed to provide them with safety equipment, including helmets, and for ignoring the soil conditions at the site of the exhibition.