By OUR STAFF REPORTER
RUDRAPRAYAG, 20 Jul: Two workers were killed and eight workers were injured when the shuttering of an underconstruction motor bridge near Narkota on the RishikeshBadrinath highway collapsed this morning. The bodies of the dead were pulled out by cutting the bars with a cutter machine, while the injured were rescued and brought to the district hospital. Of the 8 injured, two are reported to be in serious condition and were referred to a Higher Medical Centre for treatment. The SDRF and DDRF along with the Police and Army teams reached the spot soon after the incident was reported and engaged in the rescue operations. District Magistrate, Rudraprayag, Mayur Dixit stated that a highlevel inquiry would be ordered into the accident and that anyone guilty of negligence would be punished.
As per the information received, workers were tying the shuttering on the motor bridge being built in Narkota along the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway at nine o’clock this morning. In the process, all of a sudden, the entire part of the heavy shuttering fell on the workers, who were crushed underneath. Two workers died on the spot, while eight people were injured. As per the reports, 40 workers were on duty at the site when the accident occurred. Most of the workers including the two who died on the spot were residents of Uttar Pradesh. As soon as the information was received, a team of the District Administration, Disaster Management, DDRF, SDRF, Army, Police reached the spot and started relief and rescue work. The injured were sent to the district hospital. Two labourers seriously injured in the accident were referred to Srinagar Hospital. Superintendent of Police Ayush Agrawal also took stock of the situation. District Magistrate Mayur Dixit said that a high-level inquiry would be conducted into the collapse. Necessary action would be taken against the officers and personnel of the executing agency and the agency doing the work.
