Another accident dogs DMRC

Two cranes overturned injuring 12 persons. DMRC, however, denied anyone was injured
Sadiq Naqvi Delhi Hardnews

Another Delhi Metro mishap left 12 injured, two of them critically when two cranes overturned. The incident occurred at the site of the proposed metro station at Saket in south Delhi at 12.15 pm on Saturday.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), however, denied anybody was injured even though the Delhi Police claimed two persons were critically injured in the mishap.

DMRC officials remain tightlipped over the whole issue. According to a statement issued by the DMRC, it was a minor accident.

This is the fifth mishap in the last three months. The DMRC was much criticised for not following the requisite procedure of checking designs of the pier which collapsed at Zamrudpur. Six people died and several were injured in that incident.

The current incident shows that no lessons were learnt from the previous accident. Even in the two derailments which happened in the past months, sources reveal that junior employees are always held responsible. This is done to save the bosses with whom the ultimate responsibility rests. Sources also pointed towards major faults in the system being used by the DMRC leading to disruption of train operations.

The crane involved in Saturday's incident was hired by Larsen & Toubro from Global Hydraulic Sales. It was manufactured in 2006 and was certified for fitness for operations, DMRC claimed.

"The chief project manager from DMRC and other senior officers are supervising the recovery work," the DMRC spokesperson said. A 50-ton capacity crane, which was lifting a smaller capacity crane (Hydra) at the site, developed a mechanical problem as one of the cylinders used for lifting the boom (lifting arm) of the bigger crane failed, DMRC claimed.

There is much hush-hush about DMRC's operations, complained a section of DMRC employees. "This is done so that the flaws are not exposed to the public. The public relations department doesn't allow correct information to reach the masses," sources in DMRC told Hardnews.

In the run-up to the Commonwealth Games, the DMRC is under pressure to meet deadlines. This is apparently forcing it to compromise on safety and certification of equipment. The recent CAG report criticised DMRC for compromising on checking and testing of equipment.