Injured Metro worker to get new job

19-year-old was maimed after accident at CMRL’s Saidapet site

On January 11, a 70-tonne crawler crane toppled and fell at the site, killing Ranjith Biswal and severely injuring Tira Naik. His left leg had to be amputated. Photo: M. Karunakaran

The 19-year-old worker of Gammon India, who was severely injured in an accident on a Metro Rail site in the city, will be provided alternate employment.

On January 11, a 70-tonne crawler crane toppled and fell at Saidapet Metro Rail station, killing Ranjith Biswal and severely injuring Tira Naik.

Naik was rushed to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital where doctors said the bones and muscles below his left knee had been severely damaged and it was necessary to amputate his leg for him.

He was shifted to a private hospital in R.A. Puram where he underwent further treatment and was discharged on Tuesday, said an official of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL). He was then admitted to another private hospital in Anna Salai for recovery.

Officials of Gammon India, the company responsible for the construction of Saidapet underground station, said Naik would be given a suitable administrative job on humanitarian grounds.

The compensation owed to him is being processed and will be handed over to him through the labour commissioner soon, said an official of CMRL.

About 300 labourers are employed by Gammon India, which is responsible for the construction of seven underground stations — Government Estate, LIC, Thousand Lights, Gemini, Teynampet, Chamiers Road and Saidapet — for work on Chennai Metro Rail that is coming up at a cost of Rs. 14,600 crore.