PUNE: A 19-year-old worker, Mulchandrakumar Sitaram from Fatehpur Beni in Uttar Pradesh, fell to death from a height of 50 feet during an inspection work at the Metro rail's Vanaz car shed on Saturday afternoon.
"Sitaram was inspecting the rainwater drainage system atop the car shed roof when he stepped on a transparent sheet (used to allow sunlight to enter the facility). The sheet caved in, resulting in his fall," senior inspector Mahendra Jagtap of the Kothrud police said, citing preliminary investigation.
"The authorities had provided adequate safety gears and a harness to him. We are ascertaining if he had hooked the harness to a safety rope. A case of accidental death has been registered for now," said Jagtap.
Hemant Sonawane, general manager (public relations), MahaMetro said, "We have ordered an inquiry, which will throw light on how the incident occurred and other details related to it. All safety measures are in place at every site. After this accident, we are issuing fresh reminders to the contractors to intensify their daily checks at the sites to see if all the measures are in place and followed diligently. We are also working on providing apt compensation to the kin of the deceased."
MahaMetro is constructing two car sheds -- at Vanaz and Range Hills - for Metro rakes. According to Jagtap, an inspection was on because the car shed, built by a private contractor firm, is ready to be handed over to MahaMetro. Sitaram, associated with the facility for the past three months, and one of his colleagues were assigned the duty of inspecting its rooftop's rainwater drainage system, the senior inspector said.
"The two workers went to the rooftop which has a mesh of safety ropes. The workers are required to attach their harnesses with the safety ropes with the help of a hook. Sitaram's colleague told us that the victim did hook the harness to the safety rope. But it is not known if it was fastened or attached. Without checking his safety hook, he started walking on the roof," said Jagtap.
"While walking on the roof, Sitaram stepped on the transparent sheet, which caved in. He landed on the floor. We are yet to record statements of the contractor and other officials in this regard," he said.
MahaMetro's Sonawane said, "Our safety teams would be conducting inspections at the sites randomly. The contractors would be asked to display more boards at the sites to create awareness among workers on safety practices."
