Rs 663 cr under-construction flyover collapses in Madurai, 1 worker killed

The incident occurred at a ramp portion of the bridge near Bank Colony around 4.30 pm, when the ill-fated was handling a hydraulic jack to lift the girder. 

The deceased victim has been identified as Aakash Singh (40), migrant labourer from Uttar Pradesh, sources said. 

Two workers including the deceased were at work when the incident occurred. Much to agony, the hydraulic equipment lacked enough pressure accidentally and the worker lost his control before falling down from a height of about 30 to 40 feet. 

The injured worker Aakash Singh was rushed to a hospital, but he died on the way. 

The other worker Saroj Kumar, who’s engaged in work down the ramp portion escaped unhurt. It seemed to be a mechanical failure, sources said. 

However, the exact cause of the accident that claimed the life of a migrant labourer remains under investigation. Madurai Collector S Aneesh Sekhar, PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan, Finance Minister, P. Moorthy, Commercial Taxes Minister, Su Venkatesan, Madurai MP, NHAI staff and Police officers inspected the spot. 

The Collector said investigation is on and appropriate action would be taken accordingly. 

The Finance Minister wondered whether only two workers were required to execute the task at the worksite and added that it’s a Centre’s project being carried out by NHAI. It’s not clear whether these workers were trained adequately or was there any lack of safety precautions, he said. 

The NHAI’s project of 7.3 kilometre lengthy bridge is being constructed in several phases at a cost of Rs.663 crore, sources said. 

Madurai District Fire Officer S Vinoth said rescue call was received at around 4.45 pm, and twenty two brigades from Fire Stations of Madurai and Tallakulam rushed to the spot.