NHRC notice to Delhi Metro over labourer's death, injuries

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to Delhi Metro and sought a report within four weeks on reports about a labourer's death and injuries to another due to negligence, an official statement said on Friday.

Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report that a labourer was killed and another injured when a huge cement slab weighing about three tonnes fell on them in a tunnel at an under-construction Metro site in west Delhi on July 29, the commission issued notice to Delhi Metro managing director Mangu Singh.

"The commission has observed that the incident, if true, raises questions regarding violation of human rights of the labourers. When the work involved is of such a hazardous nature, safety measures have to be strictly followed and safety of the labourers and other persons working at the site has to be ensured," the statement said.

According to the media report, after the incident, the two labourers were rushed to Bhagat Chandra Hospital where one labourer, Vijay Kumar, was declared brought dead. Another, Jai Prakash, was treated for injuries and discharged the same day.