Crashdown

Among the deceased are Surender Pal Singh (28), driver of a Blueline bus (route 39), and Chotte Lal (25), a labourer. They were declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

The injured are undergoing treatment at the Lok Nayak Hospital. Two cars and two trailers that were parked under the poles were also damaged in the accident.

According to information, the accident occurred when the workers were fixing the 11th segment between piers 39 and 40 with the help of the launcher. “Ten segments were launched successfully by the same launcher. While the 11th was being launched, the machine, extended till pier 41, fell down, toppling all 11 segments on the road,” said an official of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

DMRC Director (Projects) Vijay Anand, who reached the spot after the incident, said: “We suspect it to be a technical failure. At this moment, however, we don’t know exactly what happened and are investigating the matter.”

Rajan Kataria, Chief Engineer (Design), DMRC, too, visited the spot. He said: “The same launcher and the same material have been used in the entire Trans-Yamuna section. If there is a technical fault behind the incident, an inquiry will be set up.”

Additional District Magistrate Amar Singh said: “The DMRC will conduct an inquiry and a committee will be set up for the purpose.”

Assistant Commissioner of Police Rajnish Garg said they had registered a case of negligence at the Shakarpur police station and further investigations were on.

Delhi Police and Civil Defence personnel, meanwhile, had a tough time keeping onlookers away from the spot as they acted as hindrance in the restoration work. A large number of security personnel was deputed at the site to thwart any untoward incident and both sides of the road were blocked for commuters till late evening. The entire area was cordoned off and barricades placed at every entry to the spot.

Sanjeev Kumar Gehlot, who works at the Walia Nursing Home near the accident spot, was a witness to the collapse. “There was a loud noise. For a moment I thought it was an earthquake. When we ran outside, all we saw was the debris all over the road and a cloud of dust. Those trapped underneath were screaming for help.”

B L Bothra, another eyewitness, said: “I was going home after a morning walk when I heard the bang. As I turned around, I saw a mammoth machine along with cement blocks falling on the road, blocking almost everything.”

After the cloud of dust settled, local shopkeepers and passers-by immediately ran for help and took victims out of the debris. About a dozen ambulance vans were pressed into service to rush the injured to hospitals.

Gehlot said: “I brought at least 12 people to the Walia Nursing Home first. Some of them had sustained serious injuries and were shifted to government hospitals later. The Blueline driver’s condition was extremely critical and it didn’t seem he would survive.”

Earlier, the locals had made a human chain to avoid panic caused by the onlookers. They even used loudspeakers to tell people to stay away from the spot. “Until the police reached, we did everything to keep the situation in control,” said one of them.