Fatal Incident Near Surat
A tragic accident occurred in Gujarat on Saturday when a heavy metal plate fell from an under-construction bullet train bridge, leading to the death of a 35-year-old man and his nine-year-old daughter. The incident took place near Kathore village, just on the outskirts of Surat, while they were fishing on the Tapi River.
The victims have been identified as Mohsin Shaikh and his daughter, Huma. They sustained critical injuries when the metal plate, which was being lifted by a crane, slipped and crashed onto their small boat.
Eyewitness Accounts
According to local police reports, Mohsin, Huma, and Mohsin’s mother were navigating a narrow water channel between a bridge pillar and the riverbank when the accident occurred. The crane was operating at the construction site above them, and the metal plate fell directly onto their dinghy.
Shahid, a local fisherman who witnessed the incident, described the chaos that ensued. “We heard a loud crash, and people started shouting for help. It was horrifying to see such a tragedy unfold before our eyes,” he recounted. Fortunately, Mohsin’s mother survived the ordeal.
Emergency Response
Local fishermen and bystanders rushed to assist the victims immediately following the incident. They pulled Mohsin and Huma from the water and took them to a nearby hospital, where doctors pronounced them dead upon arrival.
The police. after arriving, initiated an investigation to confirm the sequence of events and gather more details. They confirmed that a case has been registered against parties involved in the construction project.
Lack of Safety Measures
Locals have raised concerns regarding safety protocols around the construction site, stating that no effective measures were in place to prevent such accidents. Residents claimed that the waterway was kept open for local fishermen, despite the ongoing construction work, which limited accessibility to safer fishing areas.
A resident from Kathore village expressed frustration, saying, “The authorities should have ensured that local fishermen were safe from construction activities. This should never have happened.”
Official Statements and Investigations
In response to the accident, the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) released a statement acknowledging the incident. “At approximately 4:45 PM, construction work was underway when our workers heard distress calls from the victims. Immediate rescue operations followed, and we are cooperating fully with police investigations,” the statement read.
The statement further detailed that while one workman rescued a drowning woman from the river, the bodies of the father and daughter were later retrieved from the water. They noted, “We are conducting an internal review of the safety protocols in place at the construction site to ensure accountability and prevent future incidents.”
Community Reaction and Mourning
The tragic deaths of Mohsin and Huma have left the community in shock, as tributes and condolences continue to pour in from locals. A memorial for the father and daughter is being planned, where residents aim to honor their memories and raise awareness about safety concerns in the area.
Community leaders have also called for stricter regulations governing construction activities near populated areas and waterways to prevent similar incidents in the future. A petition has been initiated, demanding a detailed investigation into the safety measures implemented at various construction sites across Gujarat.
Implications for Future Projects
The accident raises significant concerns about construction safety standards in the region, particularly related to infrastructure projects like the bullet train. As Gujarat seeks to modernize its transportation, ensuring the safety of local residents and workers should take precedence.
Government officials have already initiated dialogues about revising safety protocols for future constructions. A spokesperson for the Directorate of Construction Safety stated, “We will evaluate existing procedures and introduce more rigorous safety measures to protect both workers and the local community.”
Conclusion
This tragic incident has put a spotlight on safety regulations in the construction sector, especially in areas that overlap with local fishing or residential communities. Authorities are now under pressure to ensure that no further accidents occur, prompting calls for policy changes to better protect innocent lives.
As the community mourns the loss of two beloved members, the hope is that discussions revolving around construction safety will become a priority and that families will no longer have to face such devastating losses in the future.