Under-construction PWD building collapses; 14 workers injured

At least 14 workers were injured when a slab of an under-construction multi-storey building of Public Works Department (PWD) here collapsed today.
The incident took place at the upcoming Convention Hall building being built in the New Circuit House premises in Civil Lines area, Raipur district Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Shukla told PTI.
Around 20-25 labourers were working on the third floor of the building when a portion of a slab which was being laid caved in at around 3:15 pm, he said.
A team of personnel from police and SDRF (State Disaster Response force) was immediately rushed to the spot.

As many as 14 injured workers were evacuated from the site and rushed to the Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital here, where one of them was said to be critical, he said.
Senior administration and police officials immediately reached to the spot and monitored the rescue operation.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Raman Singh visited the hospital to see the injured and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25,000 to each of them.
He expressed deep shock over the incident and prayed for speedy recovery of the injured workers. The Chief Minister directed the district administration to provide best possible medical care to them.

Singh ordered a magisterial probe into the incident and said a separate inquiry will be carried by a technical team consisting of PWD officials. "Stern action will be taken against those found guilty after the probe."
In view of the collapse, the CM directed officials to follow all safety measures to ensure protection to people engaged in construction works across the State.
"Workers should be provided with helmets and other safety equipment. Besides, the officials concerned should ensure that all technical safety measures are strictly followed at building construction sites."
Leaders of main Opposition party Congress, who also visited the hospital to see the injured, said the collapse was caused by substandard construction work and reflects corruption in PWD.

"Corruption has reached its peak under the BJP government. The incident shows poor construction work by the PWD," State Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel said.
Congress demanded a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each for the injured.