ALIGARH: A 32-year-old labourer lost his life on Saturday when a mound of soil collapsed on him while he was working in a pit to repair a leaking water pipeline in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. The incident occurred on Railway Road, a busy market area, during ongoing infrastructure work under the CM Grid Scheme.
The victim, identified as Mahendra Singh, was reportedly working in a pit approximately 14 feet deep when the soil caved in. Despite the presence of other workers and an earthmover at the site, he could not be saved. Eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage of the incident, which later went viral on social media, showed frantic efforts by colleagues to extricate him from the debris.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Mahendra Singh was rushed to the Malkhan Singh District Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. The cause of death was reported to be suffocation due to the soil collapse.
The Uttar Pradesh government took cognisance of the tragic incident, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordering the formation of a three-member committee to conduct a thorough probe. The committee, headed by the additional municipal commissioner and including the executive engineer (construction) and the tax assessment officer, is expected to submit its report within three days. The government has also announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh for the deceased labourer’s family.
Municipal Commissioner Prem Prakash Meena stated that the Aligarh Municipal Corporation was carrying out the repair of the underground water pipeline through a private contractor. He added that while two of the three identified leakages had been addressed, the accident occurred during the repair of the third section. Meena also noted that safety protocols, including barricades, warning signs, and safety equipment, were in place at the work site, but the road section unexpectedly collapsed during the pipeline connection.
The incident has ignited public outrage, with many questioning the safety standards at construction sites and the quality of civic work being undertaken. Family members of the deceased have alleged negligence, claiming that workers were often made to labour in hazardous conditions without their concerns being adequately addressed. They reportedly raised issues about soil instability prior to the accident, which they claim were ignored.
The CM Grid Scheme in Aligarh aims to upgrade major roads into modern, smart streets for improved traffic flow and urban aesthetics. However, reports suggest that several stretches under this initiative remain incomplete or damaged, contributing to hazardous conditions for both workers and the public. The Municipal Commissioner assured that security measures at all construction sites would be further tightened to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
The Chenab Times News Desk