Driver tried to save new auto, crushed to death by Metro girder

Bengaluru: A 42-year-old autorickshaw driver who was killed after a Namma Metro girder fell on him in north Bengaluru on Tuesday night, desperately tried to save his 20-day-old vehicle and ended up paying the price with his life, police said.

The accident happened on the service road of Kempegowda International Airport Road, near Kogilu Cross, at 12.10am.

Khasim Sab, 42, a resident of Hegde Nagar and from Hubballi, was ferrying a passenger from Chikkajala towards Yelahanka in his auto when he approached Kogilu Cross. A 35-metre multi-axle truck, carrying a girder weighing more than 70 tonnes from Bagalur for launching it along the under-construction ORR-KIA Blue Line, approached Kogilu Cross at the same time.

According to eyewitnesses, the truck was taking a U-turn from the service road and was to drop the girder close to Kogilu Cross. Marshals deployed for Metro work blocked city-bound traffic on the main road. Khasim's auto had reached the spot at that time. A two-wheeler and mini-goods vehicle were also parked adjacent to the auto. The truck driver noticed a bus coming on the opposite road and suddenly applied brakes, trying to reverse the vehicle a little.

Mohammed Adil, an eyewitness, said the chain binding the girder to the truck snapped. As the girder began sliding down, marshals asked people to run to save their lives. Khasim's passenger hopped out of the auto and ran, asking the driver to follow suit. But Khasim stayed in the auto, and the girder landed on his vehicle and crushed him to death.

Eyewitnesses blamed the truck driver's negligence for the accident. The driver fled, leaving behind the vehicle at the spot. Police detained him in the evening and are questioning him.

Yelahanka traffic police, who learnt about the incident, pulled out Khasim's body from the auto at 2.30am with the help of cranes. "When we checked the auto, we found his details and shared them on WhatsApp to trace his family members," Adil said.

Khasim sustained severe injuries on his chest and head, including a fracture. Locals claimed Metro officials did not visit the spot for more than two hours. There were not enough marshals with blinkers and they failed to stop vehicles 5-10 feet away from the truck, they claimed. A senior police officer said, "We are checking how many marshals were deployed and why they allowed the vehicle too close to the truck."

He was making extra money for daughter's marriage

According to police, Khasim's wife, two sons and a daughter stayed in Sidlaghatta, Chikkaballapur, and he resided at his paternal uncle's house in Hegde Nagar. As his daughter's marriage was scheduled next month, Khasim, who had purchased the new autorickshaw raising a loan, was working for extra hours to make money.

Based on his nephew's complaint, a case of causing death by negligence has been registered against truck driver Anil Kumar, 21, the truck owner and the contractor firm's officials.

Matter of concern: BMRCL

Khasim is the third civilian to die at a Blue Line construction site. In Jan 2023, a woman and her toddler son were killed after a pier under construction fell on them on Outer Ring Road.

BMRCL MD Maheshwar Rao told TOI, "We will ascertain the cause of the accident and see whether there were any breaches in safety standards while carrying out the work. A fatal accident is a matter of concern; after a detailed investigation, the next course of action will be taken."

Regretting Khasim's death, BMRCL said the girder was being transported by a long carrier truck from Vadiyarpura casting yard. While the truck took a turn, sudden braking to avoid a vehicle that rushed in front of the trailer caused the girder to fall on the auto, resulting in the driver's death. His body was recovered using cranes and despite medical attention, he couldn't recover. "Our deepest condolences go out to the victim's family. Police personnel are conducting further investigation into the accident and suitable action will be taken...," the BMRCL PRO said.