At a Patna Metro construction site, a tragic accident claimed the lives of two workers and injured eight others after a pickup van’s brakes failed, causing it to crash into laborers near the National Institute of Technology (NIT). According to the Pirbahore Thana Station House Officer (SHO) Abdul Halim, “Yesterday night, due to a fault in a machine in the tunnel, two workers died, and six workers were injured.” The incident, which occurred late Monday night, has left the community in shock and sparked a serious debate on construction safety protocols.
Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha responded to the accident, calling it “an unfortunate incident.” Expressing condolences, he added, “The investigation is ongoing, and we are receiving information about it. My condolence is with the family of the deceased.” Sinha emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring worker safety and that the accident’s causes will be thoroughly examined.
Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Minister Nitin Nabin further elaborated on the state’s response, stating, “We directed the Patna DM and the Patna metro administrations to do an enquiry and submit a report… After this, further action will be taken.” Addressing the cause of the incident, he confirmed, “We have received information about the death of two people, and four are injured… They are under treatment. The incident happened due to technical reasons.” This statement underscores the gravity with which local authorities are treating the investigation and their commitment to identifying any lapses that may have led to the incident.
The tragedy has also drawn reactions from the Odisha government, as many of the laborers working on the site reportedly hail from Odisha. Odisha Labour Minister Ganesh Ram Khuntia described the accident as “very unfortunate.” Offering reassurance to the affected families, he said, “The Odisha government will give them compensation… We will talk to the Bihar government.” This gesture of cross-state support highlights the severity of the accident and the broader implications it has for migrant labor safety across India.
The Patna Metro project, which is seen as a significant infrastructure initiative to improve urban mobility, now faces scrutiny over its safety protocols and the management of construction operations. Reports from eyewitnesses indicate that supervisory personnel may not have been present in the tunnel at the time, raising further questions. Metro officials have so far refrained from commenting on these allegations, but Public Relations Officer Monisa Dubey assured that “Patna Metro officials are conducting independent inquiries to understand the cause of the brake failure.” If negligence or lack of oversight is found to have contributed to the tragedy, further actions and stricter guidelines are expected to prevent similar incidents.
As the Patna Metro project continues, this tragic incident highlights the need for rigorous safety standards in large-scale construction efforts. With over 200,000 migrant workers active in construction sectors across India, the accident serves as a somber reminder of the risks involved. Both Bihar and Odisha’s responses will be critical in setting a precedent for worker safety and employer accountability.
