Pune: Worker Dies, Another Injured in Narhe Shed Collapse; Contractor Faces Negligence Charges
Pune, 28th December 2024: An accident claimed the life of a 62-year-old worker in Narhe when he lost his balance and fell while working on a sheet metal shed. Another worker sustained serious injuries in the incident and is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital. The Sinhagad Road police have registered a case against the contractor, accusing him of failing to provide safety equipment and being responsible for the mishap.
The deceased has been identified as Vilas Baburao Panchal (62), a resident of Anandprabhat Apartment, Shivne. The injured worker, Pandurang Baburao Kale, is being treated in the intensive care unit.
According to the police, the accused contractor, Suresh Arvind Panchal (63), a resident of Sahyognagar, Warje, runs a fabrication business. He had been contracted to erect a sheet metal shed at Varad Enterprises in Narhe. On Thursday afternoon, Vilas Panchal, Pandurang Kale, Suresh Panchal, and another worker, Mangesh Vishwakarma, were working on the shed when the accident occurred.
The workers fell from a height of approximately 12 feet after losing their balance. While all four workers sustained injuries, Vilas Panchal and Pandurang Kale were seriously hurt. They were immediately rushed to the hospital, but Vilas Panchal succumbed to his injuries before treatment could begin.
The Sinhagad Road police have filed a case against the contractor under charges of criminal negligence for failing to ensure worker safety. Police Constable Vishal Khatavkar lodged the complaint at the Sinhagad Road police station.
Police Sub-Inspector Sagar Pawar, who is leading the investigation, stated that Pandurang Kale remains in critical condition in the hospital’s intensive care unit. The police are probing whether additional safety measures were overlooked and are working to gather more details about the incident.
