The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Slab collapses: one killed, fifteen injured

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Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Slab collapses: one killed, fifteen injured

S. Ramu

Workers from West Bengal, Orissa and Chhattisgarh were working 129 metres above the ground level

— PHOTO: SINGAM VENKATA RAMANA

CAUGHT UNAWARES: Workers look at the partially-collapsed portion of the pre-heater at Ravipahad on Tuesday. (Right) Injured being treated in a hospital.

RAVIPAHAD (NALGONDA DT.): One worker was killed and 15 injured when the concrete slab of the pre-heater of a cement factory under construction on the outskirts of this village in Nereducharla mandal caved in on Tuesday.

The deceased was identified as Manob (23) of West Bengal. Six of the 15 injured were rushed to a hospital in Hyderabad and nine admitted to a private hospital in Miryalaguda. Their condition was said to be out of danger. The workers belonging to West Bengal, Orissa and Chhattisgarh were working 129 metres above the ground level when the slab of the new cement slab unit reportedly collapsed due to a heavy wind.

Representatives of GDS Constructions, the construction firm engaged by the cement company Deccan Cements Limited for civil works, claimed that 16 workers were engaged in the slab-laying work. Efforts were on to flush out the cement to find out whether more workers were trapped in the debris.

A constable K. Srinivas and photographer Nageswar Rao who managed to reach the top said they could not ascertain whether there was anybody trapped. Policemen under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Vijay Kumar were trying to send a stream of water to flush out cement on the slab. "We are not sure about the number of workers present at the time of the accident,” the SP said.

Manhandling

The work supervisor allegedly escaped from the spot as a group of workers tried to manhandle him for not disclosing the number of workers trapped under the debris. The workers did not allow the police to shift the body demanding that the officials announce the amount of compensation and other benefits to the victim’s family.

DCL senior vice-president (Commercial) Ramesh Ram told Miryalaguda MLA Julakanti Ranga Reddy and the SP that GDS Constructions would pay the compensation as per the agreement. Factory General Manager Y. Linga Rao said that the cement firm would come to the rescue of the victim’s family, if GDS failed to pay.

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