1 injured in metro slab collapse

A Little over a week after a major portion of the linkway staircase connecting to the footpath at the site of the under-construction Andheri-Kurla metro project site collapsed, killing one and injuring several others (‘Metro bridge slab collapses; several feared trapped', Sept 4), a concrete chunk of the under-construction Eastern Freeway project collapsed on Saturday afternoon in Chembur, critically injuring a pedestrian walking on the road below. Soon after the incident, the injured, 22 year-old engineering student Naresh Tanawde, was rushed to the BMC-run Shatabdi hospital, from where he was shifted to a private hospital.

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A resident of Chembur, Tanawde studies at H Patel college in Kharghar. He had stepped out to repair an umbrella. While he was waiting to cross the road, a chunk of concrete material fell down from a height of 15 metres injuring him.

A family member told MiD DAY that on Sunday, Tanawde and his family were supposed to leave for their native place in the Konkan. The family is in shock since the incident.

Sachin Khadtare, an eyewitness said, "Around 11.30-11.45 am, some workers were cleaning a pillar. Naresh was waiting to cross the road. A big chunk fell on him. I rushed him to Shatabdi Hospital, but doctors there advised that he be shifted to Sion Hospital. We decided to take him to Joy Hospital as the injuries were serious Naresh has received 80 per cent head injuries and is in a critical condition."

Contractor J Kumar, who has constructed various flyovers in Mumbai, is responsible for the work on Panjrapol Ghatkopar Link Road where the incident took place.

When asked about the incident, MMRDA Joint Project Director Dilip Kawatkar, said, "At the time of the incident work was not on. We are investigating the matter. If we find that the contractor is at fault, then strict action will be taken."

An MMRDA official said, on condition of anonymity, "The incident took place when the workers were cleaning the pier cap of pillar no 14. A concrete chunk from the slab fell down on the barricade, bounced back and hit the pedestrian walking beneath the eastern freeway."u00a0