Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Apr 16: In yet another tragic reminder of safety lapses in the ongoing Namma Metro construction, a massive viaduct being transported for the project fell off a truck and crushed an auto-rickshaw, killing its driver near Kogilu Cross late Tuesday night.

The victim, identified as Khasim Saab from Hegde Nagar, was ferrying a passenger towards Nagawara when the accident occurred. Police said the passenger had just stepped out of the vehicle moments before the fatal impact — a narrow escape that left bystanders shaken.

According to preliminary reports, the viaduct — a large concrete structure meant for the Airport Metro line — was being moved on an 18-wheeler truck. While navigating a turn at Kogilu Cross, the truck's trailer became detached from its cabin, causing the viaduct to come crashing down onto the road.

Tragically, the auto-rickshaw was in its path. Khasim, who was still in the vehicle, was crushed under the massive weight, and the auto was left mangled beyond recognition. The truck driver reportedly fled the scene immediately after the mishap, prompting police to launch a search operation.

Locals rushed to the site in a desperate attempt to help. However, the sheer size of the viaduct required a crane to lift it. The delay in the crane’s arrival sparked outrage among residents, some of whom reportedly hurled stones in protest, questioning the responsiveness of both the police and Metro officials.

Once the crane arrived, authorities managed to recover Khasim’s body and clear the debris. Meanwhile, public anger turned towards the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), with many accusing the body of gross negligence in handling heavy infrastructure transport.

This tragic incident brings back memories of a similar case from January 2023, when a woman techie and her child were killed in HBR Layout after a Metro pier collapsed on their two-wheeler. That case led to legal action against ten individuals, including BMRCL officials and staff from Nagarjuna Construction Company.

In another similar occurrence last year on Nagawara Main Road, a biker lost his life after a viaduct collapsed — just a few kilometers from the current accident site. Both that incident and this one fall under the jurisdiction of Yelahanka police.