In a horrific tragedy exemplifying India’s Silicon Valley’s untended civic issues, a 28-year-old woman and her 2-year-old child died after the staging column of a metro pillar collapsed along the Outer Ring Road in East Bengaluru on Tuesday.
According to officials, the couple and their twin children – a daughter and a son – were passing through the stretch on their bike when the iron pillar crashed on them.
The mother, Tejaswini and the son, Vihan, who took the brunt of the fall, suffered grievous injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital, where both succumbed to injuries. The father, Lohith and the daughter, Vismitha escaped with minor injuries.
The accident happened on the Blue Line (KR Puram-Hebbal-Kempegowda International Airport) under construction at around 10 am. BMRCL officials claimed that this was the first time that civilian deaths had been reported due to an accident at a metro construction site.
Further, Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai has ordered a detailed probe into the accident. Bommai, who is in Dharwad, said it was an unfortunate incident and if lapses are found stern action will be taken.
