Mangalore: Corrugated roof on cracker stall falls, two girls injured

Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)

Mangalore, Nov 2: Minor chaos erupted at Kankanady market here on Saturday November 2 after the corrugated roof on a fire cracker stall got blown off due to strongs winds and injured two girls.

The injured have been identified as Kanaka (17) and Chennamma (16). They were rushed to Colaco hospital with head injuries.

Strong winds and lightning accompanied by light rain on Saturday evening took the citizens by surprise. The corrugated roof on the cracker stall, which had been set up just for Diwali, came loose and fell on the two girls. A car that was parked nearby was also partly damaged.

Soon, a crowd gathered at the spot and took the stall owner to task for not showing any concern towards the injured girls. They alleged that the stall owner and others in the stall did not bother to attend to the girls but instead got busy setting their own stall right.

Arguments ensued between the stall owner and the locals after the latter alleged that the 5-6 stalls set up in the market followed no safety measures and that the corrugated roofs were simply placed on the stall without securing them in place. The stalll owner replied that he was not responsible for it as the contract to set up the stall was given to someone else and he had nothing to do with it. However, the public did not buy the argument and insisted that the stall owner take responsibility for the incident.

Finally, the situation calmed down and the stall owner and others began to repair the roof and the stall.

It was also claimed that though police were informed soon after the incident, they did not arrive at the spot even after an hour. This was another reason for people's anger.