HYDERABAD, India, 11 September 2007 — Even as rescue operations drew to a close at Punjagutta, where a portion of a flyover under construction collapsed on Sunday night, Andhra Pradesh government yesterday ordered the suspension of three engineers for negligence.
Chief Minister Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, who held a review meeting with officials, announced a payment of Rs. 500,000 to the next of kin of two persons killed in the incident. The government would also pay Rs 20,000 to Rs 100,000 to the nine persons who sustained injuries.
As for vehicles damaged in the collapse of scaffolding and precast spans, the government has decided to pay compensation to owners of vehicles which did not have insurance cover. Out of the eight vehicles damaged in the incident, two were auto-rickshaws.
Punjagutta police registered a case against the main contractor Gammon India under sections 304 A, 337 and 338 of the Indian Penal Code for causing death by negligence and causing hurt and grievous hurt by act endangering the life or personal safety of others.
The case was booked on the basis of a complaint lodged by some of the injured and the relatives of M.B. Kumar, who died in the accident.
The state government also appointed a five-member high-level experts committee to probe the incident.
