Two held for Metro mishap

Police have arrested two persons in connection with a crane accident that killed a Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) worker at a construction site near Pachaiyappa’s College here on Wednesday night.

Kanagaraj (32), site manager of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), and Rajesh (34), deputy project manager of Valecha Engineering, were arrested by TP Chathiram Inspector M Royappan on Wednesday night.

The police said Valecha had obtained sub-contract from L&T for the crane works and to supply manpower at the site.

They were charged under sections 287 (negligent conduct with machinery), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety) and 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code.

Both were later produced before a Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Egmore, which released them on bail on the condition that they appear before the investigating officer whenever summoned and that they extend full cooperation to the probe.

Royappan told Express that they were on the lookout for the crane operator, who had been missing since the incident occurred. “We have learnt that the crane was operated by Amalesh Yadav and we hope to arrest him,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL) on Thursday ordered a safety audit of cranes at all the Metro Rail sites across the city. CMRL chief public relation officer S Krishnamoorthy told Express that crane-related works at all Metro Rail sites have been put on hold till the safety audit is complete.

On Wednesday night, the arm of a crane that was holding 25 tonne steel rods snapped and fell, dragging a worker in the process into the diaphragm pit (for building underground metro station) and injuring six others.

In response to a query on the possibility of a safety lapse involving the ill-fated crane at the accident site, he said it was too early to draw any conclusion. “Only after a technical officer submits a report, we would know the exact cause of the accident,” he said.

Krishnamoorthy said the body of the deceased worker, Sindhu a.k.a. Hanif, will be flown to his native place by a Indian Airlines flight on Friday morning. His next of kin is expected to get a sum of `3-5 lakh as compensation.

On Thursday, the Metro Rail site near Pachaiyappa’s College wore a desolate look.

“Today is a holiday. No worker is around,” said security personnel at the site. A site worker who did not want to be quoted said that workers were afraid to return to work.

“It will take some time for them to overcome the shock,” he said.