Scaffolding collapses\, eight workers hurt after falling from 16th floor

Scaffolding collapses, eight workers hurt after falling from 16th floor

The scaffolding had been put up over a year ago for workers to paint the building, built by Runwal Developers. On Monday, the workers were trying to dismantle it. A bamboo pole near the third floor cracked and the whole thing came crashing down.

| Thane | Published: October 30, 2018 2:31:40 am
scaffolding collapse, workers injured, construction workers injured, scaffolding of a multi-storey building, Thane accident, indian express The incident took place in Balkum on Monday. (Express photo by Aniket Gawade)

Eight workers were injured on Monday when they fell from the 16th floor of a building in Thane after a bamboo scaffolding they were dismantling gave way.

The incident took place at a residential building in Balkum. “Five workers sustained serious injuries to their neck and back. We sent all of them to a private hospital nearby, from where they were referred to various hospitals, including the civil hospital in Thane,” a police officer said.

According to Thane civil surgeon Dr Kailash Pawar, one of the injured, Hasan Ali (24), was referred to Highland hospital after doctors said he had suffered paraplegia. Another critical patient admitted at the Thane civil hospital, Moniruddin Shaikh (27), suffered a deep cut on his forehead and injuries to his lower abdomen.

Three others — Mohammed Rafiqullah Shaikh (30), Mohammed Royal Shaikh (21) and Jamal Shaikh (50) — also suffered serious injuries. Dulal Shaikh (35), another injured, is under treatment in the ICU at the civil hospital. Isthak Shaikh (20) too is admitted in the ICU. “Both are stable,” a doctor said. Ali Ansari Shaikh (25), another injured, has been referred to Jupiter hospital.

The scaffolding had been put up over a year ago for workers to paint the building, built by Runwal Developers. “On Monday, the workers were trying to dismantle it. A bamboo pole near the third floor cracked and the whole thing came crashing down,” a police officer said.

The police have lodged an FIR. “We have booked the contractor. However, he hasn’t been arrested yet. We are investigating the matter,” a senior police officer said. “Most of the injured are residents of Mumbra and Diva and were working with the contractor for at least a year. They were not wearing any safety harness,” he said.

The families of the injured claimed that the contractor never gave them any safety gear. “None of the men were given helmets or harnesses although they were working on higher floors,” said Rafiqullah Shaikh, relative of one of the injured.

In a statement issued on Monday, Runwal Developers said, “Today while dismantling of scaffolding at Balkum, Thane… an incident was reported. Immediate precautions for safety were taken. Seven persons sustained injuries. The injured are being provided medication at a nearby facility. Six of them are reported stable and one is critical.”