DMRC AE dismissed; Jr Engg suspended after Laxmi Ngr Metro accident

New Delhi, Oct 20 (UNI) Reacting fast after yesterday's major accident at the the Metro construction site at Laxmi Nagar, which left two persons dead and several others injured, the Delhi Metro Rail corporation today dismissed a DMRC assistant engineer, incharge of the site, and suspended one junior engineer at the site.

Further, the project Manager and Dy. Project Manager of the contractor have been removed from all DMRC works, DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dyal said.

A fine of Rs 10 lakh has been imposed on the contractor M/s Afcons and further action against the contractor will be decided on completion of the enquiry, the spokesperson said.

For those grievously injured in yesterday's incident, an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh has been announced while for whose with minor injuries Rs 10,000 will be paid.

The DMRC spokesperson said Rs 5 lakh would be paid as ex-gratia to the deceased apart from the compensation which they will receive under the Workman Compensation Act.

Also, as part of its efforts to prevent recurrence of similar accidents on Metro sites in other parts of the city, all the 24 launchers working in various parts of the city in Phase II of Metro operations will be subjected to very detailed inspection today and only after being certified as completely safe, operations will recommence.

During the inspection, each launcher will be checked in detail to ensure proper maintenance, proper bolt tightening, anchoring, availability of safety railings, proper access, handrails, proper lighting on top of the launcher, load testing, checking of pins, etc.

Further, the Chief Project Managers have been directed to increase the number of traffic marshals at all Metro launching sites and provide more training to all the marshals. The public has been advised to follow the directions of traffic marshals at all times.

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