Bengaluru Metro Pillar Collapse: Family Members Of Deceased Woman Want Construction Stopped, Demand Action Against Contractor

Bengaluru: The family of a woman, who died along with her toddler son after an under-construction metro pillar collapsed in Bengaluru on Tuesday, have demanded action against the contractor.

The woman's husband escaped unhurt while and daughter, who is the two-year-old twin sister of the child who lost his life in the incident, had sustained injuries in the incident and was hospitalised.

Netizens angry

With this incident, many netizens and opposition members have put the Namma Bengaluru metro construction under fire and demanded officials take necessary measures to ensure people's safety, along with the due completion of the projects.

According to a statement from the officials, the couple and their twin children were passing on their bike through the stretch of road where construction was ongoing when the iron pillar crashed on them. Lohit was taking the children to the nursery school and his wife was on her way to her office when the tragedy struck the family.

'I lost everything'

Lohit, the husband of the deceased woman, said that he had lost everything. He asked the government to take safety measures so that such incidents do not occur again.

Lohit said they were travelling in a two-wheeler when the tragedy occurred. "The incident happened within a fraction of a second. As I looked back, my wife and kid had fallen", he said.

Woman's father seeks cancellation of construction

Madan Kumar, father of the deceased, demanded the cancellation of the construction work and said that he would not take the body of his daughter till the contract is not cancelled.

Madan Kuma demanded cancellation of the contractor's license. "Till then I won't take the body," he said. "Who gave them permission to build such tall pillars? The work should be stopped. I will see what is to be done in court." 

We want justice: Mother-in-law of woman

Nirmala, the mother-in-law of the deceased, said, "She came to Bengaluru 10 days back from Davanagere. She went to drop her children to school. This incident happened at around 10:30 am in the morning. We are upset, we want justice. No higher authority officials came to the spot."

Vijayakumar, father-in-law of the woman who died in the incident, alleged that the contractor in charge of the Metro pillar construction in Bengaluru, didn't take safety measures.

CM announces ex-gratia

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday announced an ex-gratia of ₹ 10 lakh for the kin of the deceased in the Bengaluru metro pillar mishap that claimed two lives.

Bommai said he has sought the details of the mishap.

"It's a most unfortunate incident. Instructions are given to order a probe to find out any lapses on the part of the contractor or other reasons. The family of the deceased will be given an ex-gratia of ₹ 10 lakh will be given," he said.