In a tragic incident at Gokulpuri metro station on the Pink Line, a 53-year-old man lost his life as a section of the boundary wall collapsed around 11 a.m. on Thursday. Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot swiftly directed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to establish a committee to investigate the incident and submit findings within two weeks. The DMRC promptly initiated safety checks across the entire Delhi Metro network in response to the accident.
The DMRC took immediate action by suspending two officials, a manager, and a junior engineer, pending investigation, as they were associated with structural checks at the metro station. Additionally, the police registered a case against the contractors responsible for constructing the wall under IPC Sections 304-A and 337, relating to negligence causing death and endangerment of human life, respectively.
The collapse, which resulted in the death of Vinod Kumar, also left four individuals injured, identified as Monu, Ajit, Mohd. Tazir, and Sandeep. Ajit, Monu, and Sandeep, who were on scooters at the time of the incident, worked as dhol wallahs in the Gokulpuri area. The injured have been admitted to GTB Hospital in Dilshad Garden for treatment.
DMRC announced compensation of ₹25 lakh for the deceased’s family and ₹5 lakh for each of the grievously injured. The corporation pledged to thoroughly investigate the incident to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Anuj Dayal, DMRC’s Principal Executive Director, assured rigorous safety checks and shared incident details with the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS).
Despite the compensation, family members of the injured expressed concern over their financial hardships. Sandeep’s brother, Deepak, highlighted the challenging circumstances faced by Ajit, who has a fracture, and Sandeep, who supports a family of three children. The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) promptly responded to the emergency, deploying four fire tenders and assisting in rescue efforts alongside the Delhi police.
The tragic incident underscores the critical need for stringent safety measures and thorough investigations to prevent such devastating accidents in the future.
