Three AAI, two OTIS employees held for IGI escalator tragedy

One R P Kalra, supervisor with OTIS, is out of town and would be arrested on his return.

Jyotsana Jethani, hailing from Jodhpur (Rajasthan) was coming to the arrival hall along with her uncle Rajesh Jethani and her grandfather Parmanand Jethani, when the footboard and comb plate at the bottom of escalator got dislodged, creating a pit and exposing the gears of the escalator into which she fell. One Usha Nagpal and J P Katyal also had sustained injuries in the incident.

"On the basis of investigation conducted so far, following persons in their official capacity were found responsible for negligent act in their duties," Baniwal said.

During the course of investigation, it was found that neither the on-off switch of escalator was visible nor any signs to direct the public on how to use emergency switches, so nobody was able to stop the escalator at the time of incident, he said.

"Lot of dust, waste material and cobwebs were found under the foot/come plate, though these escalators have been continuously serviced by OTIS and AAI since 1986," Baniwal said, adding, "The expert opinions pointed towards very poor maintenance."

"Experts from CFSL, IIT, FSL and Engineers from CPWD were called on the spot during probe. After examination, it was found that left bracket holding the comb plate had only one loose nut, instead of two as required," the DCP said.

"This loose fitting caused the brackets to move to and fro. This to and fro movements of the brackets caused the non-alignment between the comb plate the teeth of the steps," he said.

The moving steps of the escalator started exerting unusual force on the comb plate and the impact caused the comb-plate to come out from the open slots of the bracket. This subsequently pushed the footplate ahead of the comb plate, which weighs about 50 kgs, and a hollow pit was formed, he said.

Soon after the tragedy, AAI had ordered probe by a two-member team, comprising Executive Director S H Khan and General Manager Engineering (Electricals) K Ramalingam, and had suspended Senior Airport Manager D L Bindra, Executive Engineer (Electrical) C K Bose and Senior Engineer E J Minz.

A week later, Delhi Airport Director H S Bains was shifted from the airport.