At least one was killed, and three others were receiving treatment at a hospital for their serious injuries after a slab of an under-construction pillar of a Mumbai Metro 4 line partially collapsed on Saturday afternoon, February 14, in Mumbai's Mulund West.
One moving auto-rickshaw and a car were trapped under the debris of a partially collapsed slab on a busy LBS Marg near Johnson and Johnson Garden/Factory. The incident occurred at approximately 12:20 pm, prompting Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) and local police to launch a rapid rescue operation and pull out those trapped beneath the debris, which measured approximately six feet by four feet.
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The falling concrete completely crushed the auto-rickshaw (MH-04-MP-1434) and caused significant damage to a private Skoda car (WB-04-AS-1652). The victims were rushed to Upasani Multispeciality Hospital, where one man, identified as Ramdhan Yadav, was pronounced dead on arrival. Hospital officials have identified injured, including Rajkumar Indrajeet Yadav (45), whose said to be in a critical condition and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Others, Mahendra Pratap Yadav (52) and Deepa Ruhiya (40) are in stable condition and undergoing treatment at the hospital.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is overseeing the Metro Line 4 project (Wadala–Kasarvadavali), has ordered an immediate high-level inquiry into the structural failure. Preliminary reports suggest the segment fell from pier number P196.
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde on the Incident
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, who visited the site, pointed to potential negligence by the contractors. "The parapet segment was reportedly placed only yesterday," the Mayor stated. "If the work was recent, the stretch should have been properly barricaded to ensure public safety. There has clearly been a lapse in protocol."
The MMRDA has assured that all medical expenses for the injured will be covered and that a thorough safety audit of the entire elevated stretch will be conducted before construction resumes.
Traffic Halted on LBS Marg
The accident caused an immediate standstill on LBS Road, one of the primary arterial routes for commuters travelling between Mumbai and Thane. Police cordoned off a 500-metre radius around the Johnson & Johnson premises to allow for the removal of the heavy concrete slab using industrial cranes.
Northbound traffic towards Thane remained heavily congested throughout the afternoon. Commuters have been advised to use the Eastern Express Highway as an alternative route until the wreckage is cleared and the Metro structure is certified as safe.