Kochi Metro supervisor falls to death while overseeing construction work

A native of Thrissur, Sharath was engaged in supervising the Metro rail extension work from Pettah to Thripunithura.
Kochi Metro supervisor falls to death while overseeing construction work
Kochi Metro supervisor falls to death while overseeing construction work
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Sarath VR was supervising the last leg of construction work near the Vytilla Metro Station in Ernakulam on Friday, when an accident at the site claimed his life. While supervising the work, 24-year-old Sarath slipped and fell down. Although he was rushed to hospital, he could not be saved and breathed his last around noon.

A native of Thrissur, Sarath was an employee of Thrissur District Labour Contract Co-operative Society, a spokesperson of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) told TNM. He was a site supervisor, overseeing the Metro rail extension work from Pettah to Thripunithura. 

Speaking to TNM, Sarath’s co-worker said that he was wearing safety gear, including a helmet. “As part of some construction work, a few rail components were removed and he was not aware of this. He slipped and fell from a height of 45 metres,” he said.

The incident took place around 8.45 am. Sarath was rushed to Medical Trust Hospital in Ernakulam. According to the hospital representative, he sustained head injuries and was declared dead at 12.30 pm.

After the postmortem, the body will be taken to his native in Thrissur. 

The Kochi Metro was launched in January 2018. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the station and also took a ride on the metro.

In 2014, KMRL approved the 2 km extension of the metro to Tripunithura, which will add two more stations, including in Pettah and SN Junction, to the line. The work for the project had commenced last year. The line is expected to be operational later this year.

The land acquisition for the project, however, reportedly ran into controversy. While the landowners were willing to provide their property to the Metro, the tenants objected to it and even demanded a better rehabilitation package.

This is reportedly one of the first such incidents to have happened since the first phase of the KMRL’s construction started in June 2013.  

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