A tragic incident in Ahmedabad has claimed the life of a teenage labourer, highlighting severe lapses in safety protocols at a civic construction site. A 17-year-old worker died after being buried under a mound of soil that collapsed into a trench where he was working for an Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) drainage project.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The accident occurred on Tuesday night around 10 pm near the Karnavati Rivera flats in the New Maninagar area. The victim has been identified as Pankaj Katara, a migrant worker hailing from Banswara district in Rajasthan. He resided in a labourers' colony in Ramol.
According to police reports, the teenager was inside the trench, assisting with the laying of a pipeline, when a large mass of earth suddenly gave way and caved in on him. "Such work is prohibited without proper safety measures," stated a police officer involved in the case. The officer confirmed that the excavation site had no protective barricading or support structures in place to prevent such a collapse.
Gross Safety Negligence and Violations
Immediate rescue efforts were launched by local residents and the boy's co-workers, who rushed to dig him out. He was swiftly taken to a nearby hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival. The police confirmed he sustained fatal severe head injuries while trapped under the soil.
Preliminary investigations have revealed shocking oversights. Neither the contractor nor any AMC supervisory official was present at the site during the night-time work. Police sources indicated the drainage work was being carried out after dark using heavy machinery, with no 'caution' signs or barricades, endangering both labourers and the public.
"Prima facie, there were no safety tools such as helmets, harnesses, protective barriers or trench supports. The victim was a minor, and making him perform such hazardous work is a serious violation," emphasized another police officer.
Aftermath and Legal Action
The incident has sparked allegations from local residents that civic officials did not treat the death with the seriousness it warranted. In response, the police have registered a case of accidental death and have initiated a comprehensive inquiry. This probe will focus on multiple alleged offences:
- Criminal negligence leading to death.
- Flagrant violation of labour laws and industrial safety norms.
- The illegal use of child labour in prohibited and hazardous work.
The case underscores the persistent dangers faced by migrant workers in the construction sector and raises urgent questions about the enforcement of safety regulations by municipal authorities and contractors in Ahmedabad.
