State to hold inquiry into Mall mishap

Bangalore, July 13 (UNI) The Karnataka Government today said it would hold an inquiry into the alleged negligence in ensuring safety measures in operating escalators in a Mall in the city which had led to the death of a 6-year-old boy recently.

Replying to a lengthy discussion on the issue in the Karnataka Legislative Council on the incident in Garuda Mall, the Higher Education Minister and House Leader D H Shankaramurthy assured that an inquiry would be conducted into the alleged lapse in ensuring safety of the public visiting the mall.

Terming the death of the boy as an accident, the minister said that the guilty would be punished if indicted.

Earlier, raising the matter through a call attention motion, Bharatiya Janata Party member Ms Vimala Gowda charged that the incident occurred due to negligence by the promoters of the Mall which housed commercial establishments, entertainment kiosks and cinema halls under one roof.

She alleged that when the incident happened, in which a boy was tumbled out from an escalator from fourth flour and died in the hospital, safety measures were not adhered to and demanded action against the promoters.

The Mall, which was constructed violating civic regulations, also indulged in fleecing the visitors by collecting exorbitant parking fees. The parking fee for two wheeler and four wheeler stood at Rs 30 and Rs 60 per hour respectively, she alleged.

The incident could have been avoided if the promoters of the mall taken care for safety measures. The promoters had also encroached public land and a complaint was lodged with the authorities, but no actions was taken, she said.

Congress Member V S Ugrappa, Opposition leader in the house H K Patil, JD-U members Dr M P Nadagouda and Basavaraj Bommai also expressed concern over the alleged lapse in ensuring safety measures in the business complex.

However Congress member K C Kondaiah, intervened into the discussion opined that taking action against the promoters was not desirable as the death of the boy was due to an accident. The promoters had taken necessary measures to ensure the safety of the visitors, he claimed.

Prof B K Chandrashekhar, Chairman of the house, intervened and described the incident as unfortunate and instructed the government to hold an inquiry.

UNI