New Zuari bridge work: four hurt as scaffolding collapses

NT NETWORK

VASCO

Four workers, including a site engineer, sustained injuries on Wednesday after a scaffolding collapsed while being put up at the under-construction flyover of the new Zuari bridge at Sontrant-Cortalim.

Verna police sources said the mishap occurred at around 12.30 pm when the workers were putting up the scaffolding between pier 61 to 62 of the package-3 of the under-construction Zuari bridge.

The police suspected that the incident took place due to the negligence of a crane operator who allegedly lost the grip of an iron plate while the scaffolding was being lifted up close to the under-construction flyover.

The impact of the scaffolding collapse was such that a heavy-duty crane got damaged.

Four workers, including site engineer Vikas Vaibhav, were trapped under the collapsed scaffolding. They were rescued by their coworkers, and were rushed to the Goa Medical College and Hospital at Bambolim.

The three injured workers have been identified as Dipu Kumar, Tulsi Pandey and Suraj Kumar.

The three workers were discharged from the GMC after they were administered first aid, while the site engineer has been moved to a private hospital.

“We are on a lookout for the crane operator who was responsible for the accident… even the contractor is said to be out of station,” investigating police officer Sushant Sangodkar said.

The police registered an offence against site in-charge Atul Pawar (42) over the incident of scaffolding collapse.

The Verna police registered the offence under sections 336 and 338 of Indian Penal Code against Pawar for not taking proper precautions and safety measures and for negligently erecting the scaffolding.

OUR MAPUSA REPORTER ADDS: The Aam Aadmi Party demanded that the contractor of the new Zuari bridge should be booked over the collapse of the scaffolding.

Speaking to media persons at Mapusa, AAP spokesperson Valmiki Naik asked the state government to take necessary urgent measures at the worksite to prevent loss of property or life.