A man in his early 50s lost his life on Thursday when a section of the Gokulpuri metro station on the Pink Line of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) collapsed. While riding his scooter, the man was struck by debris from the wall that fell on him.
The victim, identified as Vinod Kumar, was a resident of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Colony in nearby Karawal Nagar area. The Delhi Fire Services received a call about the incident at 11:10 am and immediately dispatched four fire tenders. A total of five people, including Kumar, were injured in the collapse. Kumar, who sustained serious injuries, was rescued by the fire department and taken to a nearby hospital, where he later passed away. The other four injured individuals were taken to GTB Hospital in Dilshad Garden. In addition to the injuries, two motorcycles and two scooters were also damaged in the incident.
What Happened?
According to reports, a section of the elevated platform’s boundary wall and slab collapsed onto the road at approximately 11:04 am. Authorities have stated that a portion of the slab is still hanging.
Joy Tirkey, DCP of Northeast Delhi, shared that since the Gokulpuri Police Station is located adjacent to the metro station, local officials, including the Station House Officer, arrived at the scene immediately. “Our team, along with the help of locals and the fire department, retrieved the injured individuals from the debris and took them to GTB hospital,” Tirkey stated. The DCP added that the collapsed wall and slab spanned 40-50 meters. “We are currently gathering more details and using JCBs and cranes to clear the debris,” Tirkey noted. Another police official mentioned that the metro station has been closed for the time being. A team of experts will conduct an inspection before any repair work can be carried out. DCP Tirkey also shared that the area has been cordoned off for traffic. “We will file a case and investigate the incident,” he said.
DMRC offers compensation
In a statement released about the incident, the DMRC announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh for minor injuries and Rs 5 lakhs for serious injuries. The next of kin of the deceased will receive a compensation of Rs 25 lakh. “The DMRC is providing all necessary assistance to the injured individuals at the hospital,” the statement read.
It was also mentioned that two DMRC officials, a Manager and a Junior Engineer from the Civil Department, have been suspended immediately and are under investigation. As a safety measure, train services on the small stretch between Maujpur and Shiv Vihar are currently operating on a single line, the statement stated. However, service on the rest of the Pink Line is running as usual. Gokulpuri is located in the eastern part of Delhi. Its neighboring areas include Ganga Vihar and Yamuna Vihar.
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