Inadequate support, says IISc in Bengaluru Metro pillar crash report

BENGALURU: Ten days after a woman and her toddler-son were killed after a reinforcement cage made of iron rods for construction of a Metro pillar crashed at HBR Layout, Indian Institute of Science experts on Saturday submitted a report about the incident.
As reported by TOI earlier, the IISc team expert said the supporting system had flaws. The reinforcement cage was around 18.5m in height. JM Chandra Kishen, department of civil engineering, IISc, and part of the expert committee, said that inadequate support structure for a tall reinforcement cage is the primary reason for the accident.
Report suggests reinforcement plan for pillars
The steel bars are only 12m in length, so when they have to fix an 18m-tall reinforcement, there will be a joint in the middle and they have to attach two bars to construct it. When they do lapping, it creates a weak zone. When we have tall bars about 18m, they have a tendency to bend so we need to provide additional support . There are four guy wires provided but when they bend two guy wires become slack and the other two guy wires get a higher load and eventually snap," he said.
He said their report focuses on the reason for the collapse, measures to avoid it and recommendations to increase safety of such structures, especially during heavy wind/rainfall and precautions needed. "I have left it to the police to find out who is responsible for this accident. Our role is to find out technically what went wrong, and what could have been avoided, with a summary and recommendations."
He said they were satisfied with the quality of work. However, they suggested a two-stage reinforcement plan for pillars over 12m. The report also recommended the presence of experienced personnel, providing safety training in local language, safety examination for junior engineers, incentives for better practices, etc.
BMRCL MD gives police statement
BMRCL managing director Anjum Parwez on Saturday appeared before police and recorded his statement during a two-hour inquiry. Parwez said he met the investigating official after being summoned by Govindapura police.