Labourer killed, one injured as earth collapses at Rajwadi flyover site on Pune-Solapur highway

A heap of soil and gravel collapsed at the site of a flyover under construction at Rajwadi in Indapur taluka, on the Pune-Solapur National Highway, on Friday morning. One labourer died and another was injured. Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar has expressed grief over the incident and ordered an inquiry.

The incident took place at about 10 am on October 30, a Friday. Work was under way on the side embankment near the flyover when a large portion of soil and gravel suddenly gave way and fell.

Three labourers were working at the spot. One of them sensed the danger immediately and got away unhurt. Of the other two, one was pulled out of the debris safely, but the second was buried under it and could not be saved. Of the three labourers, one was entirely unharmed, one was injured and one died.

The injured labourer, pulled out of the debris, was rushed to the Indapur sub-district hospital. Officials said his condition is stable.

Local residents were the first to reach the spot after the accident. Soon afterwards, teams of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the police and the revenue department arrived and carried out rescue and relief work. The injured labourer was sent to hospital as soon as he was brought out.

Reacting to the incident, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar said she was deeply saddened by the labourer's death. She has also directed that an inquiry be conducted to find out how the accident happened.

The administration is now taking the necessary further action. The identities of the two labourers involved and the cause of the collapse have not yet been made public. Their names have not come out either.