Seven workers killed, one battling for life

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, AUG. 23. Seven labourers were killed and one was injured when a power transmission tower of the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, which was under construction, collapsed near Murandlahalli in Kolar Rural Police limits on Thursday.

The eight labourers were working atop the tower at a height of 33 metres when it collapsed at about 7.45 a.m. While three were killed on the spot, three died at the Government Hospital in Kolar. A worker died of injuries on way to NIMHANS in Bangalore.

The injured labourer, who has been admitted to the Sanjay Gandhi Accident Relief Centre, Bangalore, is battling for his life, according to police.

The dead have been identified as Rajagopal (30), Nagaraj (25), Madhi, alias Mathiazhagan (23), Venkatachalam (25), Selvam (25), Saravana (30) and Murugeshan (30), all from Krishnagiri District of Tamil Nadu.

Police said that 33 labourers were working at the construction site, three km. from Kolar on the Kolar-Chintamani Road, when the tower collapsed. Barring the eight who were working atop the tower, none else was injured.

The eight labourers had just finished their work and were standing on one side of the tower to get off it. Though the foundation of the tower was intact, the steel studs broke resulting in the collapse, a senior police officer said.

The Power Grid Corporation had entrusted the work of erecting the tower to a Korean firm, the Hyundai Construction Company, which had sub-leased the works. A labour contractor, Mr. Ramalingam, had hired these workers.

The Kolar Rural Police have registered a case under Section 304(A) of the Indian Penal Code against Mr. Ramalingam, who has been named the main accused, and the Hyundai Construction Company, which has been named the second accused. The Kolar District Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Keshavachar, told The Hindu that compensation would be paid to the kin of the victims. He said he had asked the District Labour Officer and the Power Grid Corporation authorities to fix the amount.

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Section  : Southern States
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