Terming Monday’s accident one of a magnitude never seen before under its jurisdiction, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has approached experts in the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru and CSIR- Structural Engineering Research Centre in Chennai, to study the reason for the accident.
Three engineers succumbed to injuries after falling from a height of almost 100 feet as the under-construction roof collapsed along with wet concrete after the scaffolding gave way.
Speaking at a press conference later in the day, BWSSB Chairman Tushar Girinath said, as per the design, the contractor had to construct four digesters to digest bio-solids and to produce gas. Out of the four digesters, the roof of one digester had been cast. On the fourth digester, work of pouring concrete of 65.5 cubic metre was under way when the accident occurred.
“On Monday, since 5 a.m., the concreting work was being carried out. At 11 a.m., around 95% of pouring of concrete was complete when the roof collapsed when the scaffolding underneath gave way. As a result, the wet concrete along with the scaffolding came down. Three engineers were on the roof when the incident happened. They died after a fall from a height of almost 100 feet,” he said.
He further said that the BWSSB is constructing similar STPs (150 MLD capacity) in other parts of city, including for KC Valley.
Action against the contractor
He said action will be taken against the contractor for lapses.
“We will conduct a probe to find out the cause of the accident and why the scaffolding collapsed. The same contractor had set up scaffolding for the first digester. The engineers who died were engaged by the sub-contractor to check the quality of work,” he said.
Mr. Girinath said, as per the contract agreement, the contractor is liable to pay compensation to the deceased as well as the injured. If the contractor fails to do so, the BWSSB would compensate them and collect the same from the contractor later.
Three BWSSB engineers suspended
After the incident, the BWSSB suspended three of its officials on the charge of dereliction of duty. They are Executive Engineer C.M. Venkatashiva Reddy, Assistant Executive Engineer Mohammed Hanif Yatnati and Assistant Engineer K.V. Bhagyalakshmi.
Mr. Girinath said that the suspended officials should have been present when the construction work was happening and make sure that the work was as per the set standards.
BWSSB to study condition of 51 overhead water tanks
After the incident, the BWSSB has decided to study the conditions of 51 overhead water tanks in the city. A majority of the tanks built by the erstwhile city municipal council on the outskirts of city were added while extending the BBMP limits.
The BWSSB has already identified two tanks, which are in a dilapidated condition, for demolition. “Half of the overhead tanks are not in use. There is a need to study these structure to avert any kind of untoward incident,” said Mr. Girinath.
