E-Paper
Aerocity cave-in: Supervisors, builder booked in Mohali construction mishap
FIR was registered at the IT City police station at 3.47 am on Friday under Sections 106 (causing death by negligence) and 125(a) (endangering life or personal safety of others) of the BNS
A day after two labourers were killed and another injured when a portion of earth from a side wall caved in at an under-construction site in Aerocity, the IT City police have registered an FIR against those allegedly responsible for the construction work and safety arrangements, including the site in-charge, foreman, contractor and builder company. The construction is linked to the Elite Medicity project in Block A Aerocity.
FIR was registered at the IT City police station at 3.47 am on Friday under Sections 106 (causing death by negligence) and 125(a) (endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The case was registered on the complaint of Narvir, a labourer working at the site, and the investigation has been assigned to assistant sub-inspector Prem Chand.
The FIR names Harinder, site in-charge; Ram Babu, foreman; Rajesh Chauhan, contractor; and other unknown in connection with the incident. Consord, the builder company, has also been named in the FIR.
According to the complainant’s statement, he and his brother Udayveer, 36, along with other labourers, were working at the construction site in Block A, Aerocity. The labourers were engaged in construction-related work, including shuttering for a concrete slab.
Narvir alleged that the site in-charge, foreman and contractor were present and supervising the work. According to the complaint, they instructed his brother Udayveer, cousin Ominder, Anuj Yadav and three to four other labourers to stop the shuttering work and start filling the excavated portion. The labourers initially refused, expressing fear that the earth could cave in and citing water seeping into the excavation from a sewer pipe. However, Harinder, Ram Babu and the contractor allegedly ignored their concerns and insisted that they complete the filling work first, telling them they could eat and rest afterwards. The labourers were allegedly made to carry on with the work despite their objections.
A portion of the earth from side wall above them suddenly collapsed, trapping labourers underneath. The complainant and other workers immediately raised an alarm and began rescue efforts. Fellow labourers worked to clear the soil and pull out those trapped underneath.
The rescue operation continued for several hours, with police and other personnel reaching the spot during the night. Two labourers, Ominder, 30, and Udayveer, 40, died in the incident, while another worker, Anuj, sustained an injury to his foot and was taken to the Civil Hospital, Phase 6. The bodies of the deceased were shifted to the hospital for post-mortem examination.
DSP Bal confirmed that the postmortem has been done and the bodies were handed out to family members for cremation. Police are investigating the matter and soon the statement of those involved in the incident will be recorded.
The incident has brought the safety arrangements at the construction site under scrutiny. Residents had alleged on Thursday night that a large portion of land had remained excavated for several weeks and that concerns had been raised over the unstable soil and accumulation of water in the excavated area.
From Mohali administration, DC Komal Mittal expressed grief on the incident and stated, “Police is doing its investigation for any criminal negligence. We will also be seeking GMADAs report on violation of any rules or approvals.”
ASI Prem Chand has been appointed as the investigating officer. No arrests have been made so far.
Questions are also likely to be raised over the responsibility of the developer and those supervising construction for ensuring adequate safety measures at the excavation site.
