2012-12-19 : Email circulated by the DIrector, IITK
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Subject: [nonstudents] Death of construction workerFrom: "DIRECTOR" <director@iitk.ac.in>Date: Wed, December 19, 2012 4:03 pm
To: nonstudents@lists.iitk.ac.in
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Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Director's Office
Dear Colleagues,
IIT Kanpur is held in high esteem the world over for decades of its
distinguished contributions to engineering education and research. Thus,
more than an embarrassment, two accidental deaths in quick succession in
construction sites of IIT Kanpur are actually a matter of shame and utmost
concern. Hence, I feel obliged to apprise you of the steps taken by the
Institute authorities’ consequent upon the recent unfortunate incidents of
accidental death of Shri Ram Saran Rai, a construction worker, on 21.11.12
at a construction site within IIT Kanpur. Let me admit that I received
many emails and enquiries following this fateful event. Since, it was
impossible for me to attend and reply to every single mail instantly, I
decided to comprehend the whole situation first and then address to you
all through this communication primarily to convey that I am deeply
shocked, extremely disturbed and honestly determined to put my best
efforts to prevent recurrence of such accidents within the Institute
premise. When the earlier incident of accidental death occurred on
18.10.12, I was yet to join the Institute. Yet I conveyed to some
concerned individual that I would make every effort to prevent such
accident. The construction work resumed on 06.11.12 following the usual
enquiry procedure and acceptance of the report by the IIT Kanpur
administration as per rules. I took over as Director on 07.11.12 and
immediately got busy with pending administrative jobs and urgent academic
matters, and assumed that construction companies would ensure safety
related guideline and strictures.
I was in Kolkata on some official assignment on the date (21.11.12), the
current accident took place. I returned to Kanpur the very next day. Let
me chronicle the sequence of events from the very beginning.
1)Shri Ram Saran Rai, an unskilled employee engaged by M/s Ramky
Infrastructure Limited died at about 0900 hours on 21.11.12 at the
construction site of new Research Associate Hostel Extension Building of
IIT Kanpur. Shri Rai apparently died due to an accidental fall from the
roof or higher floors while working.
2)Shri Rai was immediately transferred to L.L.R. Hospital by institute
ambulance and was declared ‘brought dead’ by the Hospital. The dead body
was sent for Post Mortem by local police authorities.
3)The accident was reported to the Kalyanpur police station, Employee’s
Compensation Commissioner and Regional Labor Commissioner (Central) within
24 hours.
4)The Institute authority suspended the work on 21.11.12 and constituted a
‘One-Man Enquiry Committee’ with an Ex-Additional Director General, CPWD,
New Delhi to ascertain the circumstances under which the sad incident
occurred and also to recommend measures to avoid its recurrence in future.
This enquiry was in addition to the statutory investigations undertaken by
the Police in the cases of accidental / unnatural deaths.
5)I, myself, visited the site of accident along with Dy. Director and
other officials on 22.11.12 (as I was out of Station on 21.11.12). The
Enquiry Committee visited the site and held enquiry at IIT Kanpur during
November 24-26, 2012. The committee interviewed and interrogated a large
number of workers, IIT Kanpur staff, Company representatives and Members
of local authorities, besides meeting myself on 24.11.12.
6)The Post Mortem report was sent by the medical authority to the local
police on 28.11.12. Subsequently, a copy of this report was obtained by
our officials.
7)The Enquiry Committee report received on 10.12.12 is now being examined
for deciding about the possible reasons for this accident and the measures
to be undertaken before construction activities at the site can be
resumed.
8)Meanwhile the Contractor was asked to cooperate in the enquiry committee
and be prepared to arrange for adequate compensation for the family of the
deceased as per the directions of the Employee’s Compensation
Commissioner. Significantly, no amount of compensation is directly paid
to the victim’s family, instead as per the law the compensation is
required to be deposited with the Employee’s Compensation Commissioner,
from where it is disbursed to the victim’s family after complying with due
procedures as per law.
9)The Employee’s Compensation Commissioner has directed for depositing the
compensation amount on 27.11.12 giving one month’s time. The Contractor
has accordingly been asked to take immediate action about the payment.
10)It is expected that the construction company would pay the compensation
as directed by the Employee’s Compensation Commissioner shortly. In
addition, IIT Kanpur will reimburse the entire cost of her travel and stay
at IIT Kanpur along with her family members.
Registering our anguish and concern is not enough. In order to prevent
recurrence of any such unfortunate accidents in future, the Institute is
seriously contemplating of the following measures:
1)Commission an independent agency with well established credential in
construction business for survey and inspection of our civil construction
sites and projects in order to advise about appropriate safety measures to
be enforced in all future construction activities.
2)Frame exhaustive safety norms as per the above directive and make such
guidelines as part of the contract with strict provisions for penalty
including cancellation of contract in all future construction related
contracts. It shall be our endeavor to take similar measures in all
ongoing and future construction activities.
3)Appoint a safety and security officer for IIT Kanpur to directly report
to the Director. This officer would have the authority to inspect, advise
and intervene in all matters related to safety and security in the
Institute including civil construction, chemical and fire hazard,
biological/toxic material handling and disposal, etc.
4)Appoint Professors-in-Charge for planning, vetting and advising the
authority in the all Jobs and Contract concerning civil
construction/maintenance, electrical maintenance & air conditioning and
will also oversee compliance of safety norms.
5)As per safety guidelines, each construction company will be asked to
file safety compliance report on regular basis to the concerned officials
of the Institute, failing which the necessary penalty may be imposed.
Let me add, though accidents cannot be totally ruled out despite the best
possible intentions and measures, it is our duty to accord highest
priority to safety norms and implement every single guideline with utmost
sincerity to keep our conscience clear. While no amount of argument,
analysis or philosophy can bring back a life already lost, negligence
leading to death can never be condoned under any circumstances. Hence, let
us remain vigilant and committed to ensure that an unfortunate incident
such as death of Sri Ram Saran Rai does not occur in future. Construction
is unavoidable to allow the Institute to grow and realize its mandate and
dream; however, safety and security cannot be compromised.
With kind regards,
Sincerely,
(Indranil Manna)
Director,
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Kanpur – 208016, Uttar Pradesh, India