Bengaluru woman, toddler son die as Namma Metro under-construction pillar collapses; police book 6

“Today morning Bengaluru metro pillar collapsed and hit a bike on which four people were travelling. They are father Lohith and mother Tejaswini and twins (one son Vihan and daughter Vismita). Tejaswini and Vihan were seriously injured and immediately shifted to Altius hospital. Unfortunately, Tejaswini and Vihan died,” DCP (East Division) Bhimashankar S Guled told South First.

He added that the investigation of the case will be done based on the complaint registered by survivor Lohith Kumar.

#Bengaluru: Woman & her toddler killed in under-construction Metro pillar collapse near Kalyan Nagar

Police have registered a case against BMRCL & others. @INCKarnataka has hit out at @BSBommai govt accusing it of corruption & jeopardising public safetyhttps://t.co/Undws4Famv pic.twitter.com/LR2t9Y6wFU

— South First (@TheSouthfirst) January 10, 2023

The BMRCL statement. (Supplied)

By evening, the police had registered a case in this regard, booking at least six people — including the site engineer and contractor — for criminal negligence, among other things, under relevant sections of the law.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), in a statement after the incident, acknowledged the incident.

It added: “Notices are being issued to the contractor and the concerned engineers. The IISc will be requested to investigate and provide a report. An internal technical team will also investigate the matter.”

The BMRCL also said: “Along with the cost of treatment of the injured persons, a support of ₹20 lakh will be paid to the family of the deceased.”

Later in the day, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai also announced a solatium of ₹10 lakh for each death to the family of the deceased.

He also announced that a probe had been initiated into the incident.

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ನಾಗವಾರದ ಬಳಿ ಮೆಟ್ರೋ ಪಿಲ್ಲರ್ ಕುಸಿದು ಇಬ್ಬರು ಸಾವೀಗಿಡಾಗಿದ್ದು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ದುರದೃಷ್ಟಕರ ಸಂಗತಿಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಈ ಸಂಬಂಧ ಸಮಗ್ರ ತನಿಖೆ ನಡೆಸಲು ಆದೇಶಿಸಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಮೃತರ ಕುಟುಂಬಕ್ಕೆ ಮೆಟ್ರೋ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆ ನೀಡುವ ಪರಿಹಾರದ ಜೊತೆ, ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳ ಪರಿಹಾರ ನಿಧಿಯಿಂದ ಸಹ ಪರಿಹಾರ ನೀಡಲಾಗುವುದು. pic.twitter.com/l5msYveG8u

— Basavaraj S Bommai (Modi Ka Parivar) (@BSBommai) January 10, 2023

Bommai’s resignation sought

Meanwhile, Congress MLA Sowmya Reddy from Jayanagar directly held the BJP government responsible for the Bengaluru Metro accident and demanded the Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s resignation.

“They have registered cases against BMRCL, but CM should resign as Bengaluru development portfolio is under the CM. It is not that a random pothole fall, but two people have lost their lives here. It clearly shows how corrupt and inefficient Karnataka BJP state government is,” Reddy told reporters.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has announced financial assistance of ₹20 lakh for the family after the pillar collapse accident. An internal investigation has also been launched.

“We follow the highest quality standards possible when it comes to construction. A detailed probe will be done, and will see if it was a technical error or man-made,” BMRCL Managing Director Anjum Parvez told reporters.

“Steps will be taken to prevent such incidents from happening again,” he added.

Related: How crumbling infrastructure shames Karnataka

Fallout of Bengaluru Metro pillar accident

The family of four, from Horamavu in East Bengaluru, were rushed by passers-by to the nearby Altius Multispeciality hospital.

The doctors who treated Tejaswini and Vihan said they suffered severe head injuries while Vihan was injured in the chest, too.

Shortly afterwards they were brought to the hospital, and Tejaswini and Vihan died.

An Altius Multispecialty spokesman told reporters that the deceased was brought to the hospital in a very serious condition. Even though they tried their best to save them, the victims did not respond to treatment.

However, the father and the twin sibling are out of danger, as per the police.

Meanwhile, the police have sent the bodies to Dr Ambedkar Hospital for a postmortem.

Bigger tragedy avoided

According to eyewitnesses quoted in the media, it was fortunate that the bars of the Bengaluru Metro pillar did not fall on other vehicles.

However, vehicles piled up on the busy Hennur Road after the incident, leading to a logjam.

Several commuters complained of heavy traffic in and around Hennur, Kalyan Nagar, HBR Layout, Nagawara and surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, Bommai has sought information from officials regarding the accident.

He told reporters in Dharwad, “I have sought complete details from the officials concerned. We will soon announce compensation for the family of the victims.”

The @INCKarnataka MLA @Sowmyareddyr demanded the resignation of @CMofKarnataka for the death of mother & son due to the collapse of the metro pillar on the bike they were travelling in. @TheSouthfirst @anusharavi10 @BBMPAdmn pic.twitter.com/xF5tHaBtv0

— Mahesh M Goudar (@IamMGoudar) January 10, 2023