In a shocking incident, seven construction workers died and one was injured when the roof of an under construction tunnel collapsed in Telangana. The incident took place on Wednesday when the tunnel of an upcoming irrigation project collapsed on the men working.
Officials reported among the deceased three were from Chhattisgarh, two from Odisha and one from Telangana and the other from Bihar.
The laborers were working near the boomer machine when the tunnel roof collapsed. The collapse was due to the air pockets bursting causing the five ton granite roof to fall.
The Kaleshwaram irrigation project is considered the costliest one in the country with an estimated expenditure of Rs. 80,500 crores.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao responded to the incident and instructed officials to take precautionary measures to avoid such tragedies again.
Irrigation Minister Harish Rao reported that the project contractor will pay Rs. 5 lakhs as ex gratia each to the next of kin of the deceased. A probe is also being conducted about the incident.
A senior engineer was quoted saying, “I have visited the work site on Saturday and even the consultants were there and they did not find any anomaly in the work or any indication of abnormality in the draft tubes… Although it’s unfortunate, such accidents occur sometimes when work is done below the surface.”
District Collector Krishna Bhaskar said, “An engineering inquiry would ascertain the reasons behind the incident. Arrangements are being made to send the bodies of the deceased to their native places.”
