Mumbai: A major accident took place at Suman Nagar Society in Chembur when a 20-foot concrete structure, part of the ongoing Metro Line 4 construction towards Wadala, collapsed onto the residential area. The incident, which occurred around 9:30 pm on Thursday, caused panic among residents. The mishap took place on the road leading to Sion-Trombay Road, an important traffic route in Mumbai.

The fallen structure, identified as a reinforcement cage, crashed onto a security guard’s cabin within the society premises. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. However, the collapse has sparked questions about the stability of the ongoing metro work and the safety measures in place.

What Exactly Caused The Collapse?

According to reports quoting officials, the accident occurred at pillar 105C, where an initial 4.5-metre section had been completed and an additional 8-metre steel reinforcement structure was being installed. Due to traffic restrictions at the busy intersection, the reinforcement was secured using ropes tied to a concrete block instead of being lifted by a crane.

The collapse happened during the removal of temporary shuttering. A turnbuckle fastener, which was attached to the concrete block, reportedly broke after being struck by an unknown object. This caused the ropes securing the reinforcement cage to loosen, leading the structure to topple onto the security cabin, damaging its metal sheet.

MMRDA Assures Probe In The Matter

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the overseeing body for metro projects, assured a detailed investigation into the incident. Findings from the inquiry are expected to be released within two days. According to a Times Now report, MMRDA’s director of works, Anil Salunkhe, visited the site to assess the damage and review preliminary reports. The construction is being carried out by Milan Road Build Tech, a subcontractor working under Reliance Infrastructure.