Mumbai: Two site engineers arrested for negligence in construction work, FIR also names 2 welders

MUMBAI: MIDC police have arrested the site engineer and site supervisor of the company which carried out construction work at the ESIC Kamgar Hospital where nine patients have died so far in a fire that broke out on Monday. Police arrested the duo, Nilesh Mehta (40) and Nitin Kamble (35), employees of Supreme Constructions Ltd, for negligence in enforcing safety measures while carrying out construction work on a new hospital building.

Names of two welders--Harish and Rakesh--were also mentioned in the FIR that was registered. A probe is on to verify if the hospital management was aware of the safety violations. The two arrested (both engineers) will be produced before the Andheri court on Thursday. The four accused have been booked under sections of Indian Penal Code for 34 (common intention), 304 (A) (causing death by negligence) and 337 & 338 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others).

“The two engineers were arrested for not following basic safety measures. The two welders were on duty carrying out welding of the shaft of the glass facade when the sparks fell on the uncovered rubber sheets which then caught fire, and the smoke spread from the under-construction building to the old hospital building leading to nine deaths,” said the police.

The FIR was registered after police teams recorded statements of at least 170 people, including patients and their family members, who were victims or witnesses to the incident. “On Tuesday, the forensic team carried out inspection and sample collection from the spot. Prima facie cause of fire was sparks from the welding falling on at least 60 rubber sheets kept piled uncovered in the store room,” said a police officer of the MIDC police station. More arrests may follow.