Tragedy Strikes the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project
Rescue operation is underway after a temporary structure collapsed at a construction site on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor in Gujarat’s Anand district on November 5, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI
Well, folks, when they said the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train would be fast, I don’t think they meant fast-tracking tragedy. On November 5, 2024, a construction site accident in Anand district has many asking, “Was this the speed they were talking about?”
Three men tragically lost their lives, and another is nursing injuries after concrete blocks—those pesky, weighty nuisances—decided to make an impromptu descent onto four unsuspecting workmen. If you’re in the construction industry, you really want to keep concrete blocks on the ground — not practicing their fall audition for American Ninja Warrior.
The confirmation from the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (or NHSRCL if you prefer acronyms) says that the poor souls were sinking a well when the catastrophic failure occurred. Now when I hear “sinking”, I usually think of sailors and their ships, not construction workers and their concrete blocks!
After the unfortunate mishap, rescue operations hastily swung into action thanks to cranes, excavators, and the local community. You know things are dire when even the locals jump in to help. Our best intentions go out to the workmen who were quickly pulled from the rubble but it’s still a grim reminder that construction sites can be more dangerous than a game of Jenga with a family of very competitive uncles.
According to the spokesperson from NHSRCL, the rescue efforts were robust, because heaven knows they have to be after such a disaster. They managed to extract all four workmen, but announced with heavy hearts that three had been declared dead. What do they say about the choices in life? All we can hope for is that the fourth is able to tell the tale of what he saw, as he recuperates from his injuries, preferably without needing therapy from a Hillary Clinton look-alike therapist—a nod to the fact that trauma comes in many forms.
The NHSRCL has reported that an ex-gratia of ₹20 lakh has been allocated to two of the deceased workers’ families and the other one is being processed via digital means—because clearly, when you lose someone, nothing says “We care” like a bank transfer!
Now, here’s the kicker—while they were busy sinking that well, they got 582 metres down and, just as they were about to finish the last 28, those concrete blocks thought, “Why not ruin the fun?” The spokesperson noted that the blocks weighed about 2.5 tonnes each. You’d almost think they were competing with the weight of excess baggage at an airport—only this time, the stewardesses weren’t there to roll out the safety procedures.
As for the inquiry into how this all happened? They’re on it! A “detailed technical enquiry” is underway. Because let’s face it; we need to know how to prevent concrete blocks from behaving like emotional wrecks. The important takeaway? Just because it’s high-speed rail doesn’t mean it should come with high-speed tragedies.
Published – November 05, 2024 10:59 pm IST
Rescue operation is under way after a temporary structure collapsed at a construction site on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor in Gujarat’s Anand district on November 5, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Three workmen died, and one was injured on Tuesday evening after getting trapped at the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project site in Anand district of Gujarat.
A spokesperson from National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) stated that rescue operations commenced without delay, utilizing cranes and excavators that were readily available at the busy construction site. Local residents, along with state administration officials, police department personnel, and teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), all contributed to the rescue efforts.
“All four workmen have been taken out. One workman is under treatment. Three were declared dead. Ex-gratia payment of ₹20 lakh each has been given to two of the family members and to [the other] one is being given through online transfer,” the spokesperson said.
Work for sinking a well was underway to reach 610 metres of which 582 metres was completed. At the time of the accident, the remaining 28 metres being sunk across three wells was in progress. “Concrete blocks of 2.5 tonnes each were loaded on frame for sinking which was supported by high tensile strands. However, due to snapping of strands, blocks fell down and four workmen got trapped. Detailed technical enquiry is being undertaken to ascertain the cause of the incident,” the spokesperson further said.
Published – November 05, 2024 10:59 pm IST
