Boy killed, 7 injured as NDMC workshop's wall collapses

A 12-year-old boy died and seven persons were injured when a wall of an automobile workshop of North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) collapsed during pruning of a tree in central Delhi today, prompting the civic body to suspend three engineers.
The deceased, identified as Pachi, was playing near the wall when it collapsed after a branch of the tree that was being pruned, fell on the wall, police said.
"The incident occurred around 11:25 AM when the tree at an old NDMC workshop in Karol Bagh was being pruned by municipal workers," said a senior police officer.
A branch of the tree fell on the wall and it collapsed injuring seven persons and killing the boy, he said.

A case under Section 304A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC has been registered at Desh Bandhu Gupta Road police station, he said.
North Delhi Municipal Corporation said that the wall had not been repaired owing to a pending dispute.

"It was an old wall of North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) central workshop at Jhandewalan. Due to a court case, its repair was pending and was in a dilapidated condition for which a warning was painted on it to avoid any accident," said a senior NDMC officer.
He also claimed that the tree was pruned two days ago.
"The allegation of cutting of a tree is unfounded. The tree was pruned that too two days ago. People from nearby slum use the open space despite warning by NDMC to keep off the dilapidated wall," he said.

Meanwhile, three officers have been placed under suspension for negligence.
"In the incident of wall collapse in Jhandewalan Auto Workshop, municipal commissioner Praveen Gupta has placed superintendent engineer KP Sachdeva, executive engineer Ram Kishan and foreman PK Gaur under suspension pending inquiry for negligence and not taking proper care and safety measures in pruning of tree. The inquiry will be conducted by the Addl Commissioner (Engg.) Sanjay Goel," a release said.
A compensation of Rs 50,000 will be paid to the family of the child from the Mayor's Relief Fund.