Gujarat News: Three workers lost their lives on Tuesday evening when a temporary structure collapsed at a construction site on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor in Gujarat's Anand district. The tragic incident occurred in Vasad village, located along the under-construction bullet train route, confirmed Superintendent of Police Gaurav Jasani.
Initial reports from police officials indicated that a section of an under-construction bridge had collapsed. However, the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), responsible for the project, later clarified that the collapse involved a temporary structure of steel and concrete blocks, used for well foundation work, which fell near the Mahi River close to Vadodara, news agency PTI reported.
"A girder being set up at the bullet train project site had fallen today. According to the primary information, three to four workers were trapped under the debris after the bridge collapsed. The rescue operation started immediately. Two people have already been rescued and were taken to the hospital," Anand Superintendent of Police (SP) Gourav Jasani told news agency PTI.
The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited confirmed, “Today evening at Mahi River, at the construction site of the bullet train project, three labourers were trapped between concrete blocks. The rescue operation is in progress using cranes and excavators. One labourer has been rescued and is recovering in the hospital.”
A Vasad police station official confirmed that three workers had died, while a fourth was receiving treatment in hospital, PTI reported.
“We received the call at around 5:15 pm that a few people have been buried under the debris near the bullet train construction site, Rajupura. We sent one team of the fire brigade. Later, I also arrived at the spot, along with all the staff members. A total of four people were rescued and admitted to the hospital. One of them has died as per the information we have received. We have also taken out two dead bodies during the rescue operation. Three people have died in total and several are injured,” stated Anand Fire Officer Dharmesh Gor.
Efforts to clear the site were underway, with authorities using cranes and excavators to remove the collapsed concrete blocks to ensure no other workers were trapped. Locals also joined the rescue efforts.
Once completed, the 508-kilometre bullet train project aims to reduce travel time between Ahmedabad and Mumbai to approximately three hours, down from the current six to eight hours.
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UP: 29-Year-Old Man Dies In Wall Collapse In Amethi
In a separate incident, a 29-year-old man died after being buried under the debris of a wall constructed to fence off an open drain in the Jagdishpur area of Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. The police reported that Javvad, a native of Inhauna village, had been missing from his home for the past two days, as per PTI. His body was discovered in a drain near the BHEL building, covered by debris. Kamrauli Police Station Officer Abhinesh Kumar stated that according to Javvad's family, he was a drug addict and frequently visited the location to use drugs.
It is believed that he may have attempted to move his body through an iron railing built on the wall along the drain, leading to its collapse.