82-yr-old, minor escape death as crane falls on their slum

An 82-year-old man along with his 15-year-old grandson narrowly escaped death after a crane turned turtle and a part of it fell over their hut situated near the site of the ongoing Delhi-Barapullah bridge project near Sarai Kale Khan. 

Meanwhile, the equipment provider company and contractor firm are blaming each other for the incident.

A senior official of the provider company said: “The incident took place when officials of the contractor firm forced the crane operator to unload it on the unequal surface that <g data-gr-id="40">disbalanced</g> the crane and its kelly mass fell over the hut. Even our driver had informed them that this could be risky but company officials at the site emphasised to unload it at the same place and the incident happened.”

However, an official of the contractor firm denied such an allegation and blamed the provider company for the incident. 

“It was the negligence of the equipment provider company who could not deliver the consignment safely which resulted in the accident. They should have removed the kelly before moving it to the site. They are passing the blame to our court to defame us and trying to save themselves.”

“We were sleeping when the incident took place. I suffered minor <g data-gr-id="35">injuries,</g> while my grandson luckily went unhurt in the incident. We are still living in the damaged hut, and the crane is yet to be removed from the spot. There is also a continuous leakage of diesel and hydraulic oil from the broken part,” said 82-year-old Sarjudas.

While both the firms are giving assurances to remove the crane from the incident, almost 48 hours have passed and nothing has happened yet. 

“We are forced to live in this damaged hut for the past 48 hours. They have given us assurances to remove this crane and compensate us for our <g data-gr-id="28">damage</g> but nothing has happened till now,” he added. 

Meanwhile, no police complaint was filed till late Wednesday evening.