Two individuals tragically lost their lives when a heavy iron rod fell from a multi-storey building in Howrah city, West Bengal. The incident occurred adjacent to the Howrah Municipal Corporation on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased have been identified as Sheikh Irfan and Khokon.
Police officials from the Howrah Police Station responded to the accident after being informed and are currently investigating the circumstances. The welding work of the rod was in progress in the stairwell of the trade center near the Howrah Municipal Corporation since Tuesday morning. During the welding process, the iron rod suddenly dropped, injuring the victims who were underneath the building.
Local residents mentioned that numerous traders stored their goods in the trade center located in Howrah’s Mangalahat on the day of the incident. Sheikh Irfan, a hat trader, and his friend Khokon were at the building to store their goods when the heavy rod fell on them, resulting in severe injuries. Tragically, both individuals were declared dead upon arrival at the Howrah state general hospital.
Following the accident, chaos ensued at the scene, prompting the arrival of officers from the Howrah Police Station. Upon inspection of the multi-storey building’s roof, authorities observed scattered iron rods and materials. It was noted that the work was being carried out without proper safety measures, including the absence of a safety net. The police are conducting a thorough investigation into the matter.
Sheikh Islam, the brother of the deceased Sheikh Irfan, expressed concerns to local reporters regarding the lack of safety measures during the work on the roof. He recounted the incident, stating that despite the rod falling on his brother and Khokon, no immediate assistance was provided until the police intervened approximately 20 minutes later.
