Fury, frustration at Chennai Metro site

Fear, anger and a lack of information was perceptible as over a 100 workers gathered around the Metro rail construction site at Pachaiyappa’s College on Wednesday night, moments after 25-tonne steel rods came crashing down, killing a worker and injuring six others.

“Please let us in. We want to know the fate of our colleagues,” pleaded a worker as L&T officials denied them entry.

Angered by what they termed as indifference, a worker banged on the metal door, demanding that he be let in.

Immediately, a cop pounced on the worker, slapped him and a few other workers, before asking them to leave. “Don’t stand here. Clear out immediately,” he said, as the workers took cover inside the make-shift barracks near the site. “The steel rods fell on them when the work was going on. More than 100 were inside,” another worker said, while adding that the supervisor has asked them not to speak to anybody. Initially, it seemed as if the whole issue was being hushed up. It was only the workers who were in know of things.

Meanwhile, the traffic flowed as usual as passers-by did not seem to have any inkling that a major accident had occurred.

The on-site project managers were taken in by police for questioning. When asked, a metro rail spokesman said he has no information. “You ask L&T officials,” he retorted.  At first, a lone ambulance and a fire engine entered the site, soon to be followed by five more ambulances.

CM Announces Relief

Expressing grief over the death of Sindhu, a worker engaged at the site, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday night announced a solatium of `1 lakh to the kin of the deceased.  She also announced `25,000 as financial aid to six others who were injured. The CM wished all the injured a speedy recovery.