Mumbai: Eight construction workers were injured after the scaffolding that they were dismantling came crashing down in Thane on Monday morning. The police have booked the contractor in charge of the project.
The incident occurred around 10.30 a.m. at Runwal Garden City Society in Balkum, Thane (west). The Kapurbawdi police said the structure was erected around a year and a half ago when maintenance work was undertaken.
“The scaffolding was put up so that the building could be repainted, and had been there since. The contractor had recently undertaken the task of removing it, and had hired several labourers for the job,” an officer at Kapurbawdi police station said.
On Monday, while it was being removed, it suddenly gave way and collapsed. While some labourers who were standing on it at a height of several floors fell down, some others who were standing under it also sustained injuries.
Other labourers at the site alerted the authorities, and the fire brigade and the Thane Municipal Corporation sent rescue teams. Eight labourers were rushed to Thane Civil Hospital. Of them, five workers, who sustained serious injuries, were moved to Highland Hospital in Thane, while one was shifted to Jupiter Hospital and two were admitted to Thane Civil Hospital.
Meanwhile, a team from Kapurbawdi police station reached the spot. After speaking to several of the injured labourers and other eyewitnesses, and examining the scaffolding, the police realised that the contractor was at fault.
“The scaffolding had been slowly crumbling for the last one year and a half. We have also found that not all of the labourers had been provided with safety gear like helmets,” senior police inspector Kalyan Karpe, Kapurbawdi police station, said.
The police booked the contractor, Dada Kumbhar, for causing injury and endangering life or personal safety of others due to rash and negligent conduct under the Indian Penal Code.
“Residents of the building said they had asked Mr. Kumbhar to dismantle the scaffolding which was becoming weaker. We are conducting inquiries to verify this,” an officer said. Mr. Karpe said arrests are likely to be made soon in the case.
