Glass panel at Kolkata airport caves in, CISF jawan dies

Expressing grief at the tragic incidem, director of Airports Authority of India, A K Sharma, said, “It is an extremely unfortunate accident. The service corridor in question was out of bounds for passengers and other people and was accessible only to the service and technical staff who were aware of the fragile condition of the glass panels. CISF units, the anti-sabotage units of course, had access too.”

“Though imported, the glass panel are vulnerable to frequent breakages,” Sharma added.

The CISF unit comprising four members were on an anti-sabotage checking duty near the terminal’s arrival gate number 5 B, ahead of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s return from London.

The CISF team split into two pairs and were walking down the glass panel in between two glass walls, which was was fragile and covered by a poly-carbonate sheet. The constable, however, stepped on the fragile portion and the glass panel just caved in taking him with it.

A commission of inquiry will be formed to look into the circumstances that led to this tragic accident, said Sharma.

Airport sources said when Mamata heard about the tragic accident, she inspected the site and also condoled the constable’s family.