2 workers injured as Maligaon flyover's iron plank collapses

Guwahati: Two construction workers engaged by the public works department (PWD) sustained grievous injuries after a big iron shuttering plank of an under-construction flyover in Maligaon, which is around 2 km long, fell on them on Tuesday afternoon.
The injured workers - Nayan Das (23) and Jitu Das (20) - were working under the flyover when the incident took place at around 3.15 pm. They were rushed to the Swagat Super Speciality Hospital at Maligaon.
Doctors said Nayan sustained injuries in his brain, lungs, chest and head and was shifted to the ICU. "His condition is critical. Jitu sustained spine and waist injuries. They have been provided necessary treatment," a doctor said.
Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who rushed to the accident spot immediately after the accident, said, "The construction of the flyover is at the last stage and it will be completed in around two months. Now, work is going on the edges of the bridges. Unfortunately, a plank fell today, and the two workers sustained injuries."
He said the construction work of the flyover will remain closed in daytime and instructed the district authorities to close either side of the road under the flyover for vehicle movement between 10 pm and 6 am.
Sarma has also directed the Kamrup (Metro) Pallav Gopal Jha and Guwahati police commissioner Diganta Barah to chalk out a traffic plan so that no such accident happens again and the remaining work of the flyover can be completed as soon as possible.
The construction work will remain closed during the Ambubachi fair at the Kamakhya temple. The flyover is expected to be opened to public before Durga Puja. Sources in the PWD said an investigation into the incident will soon be ordered to find out what exactly led to the accident.
The incident took place a day after an underground water pipeline burst in Guwahati's Rajgarh on Monday.