Worker,19, killed as factory lift falls on him

New Delhi: A 19-year-old worker died after his head got stuck under a lift, which reportedly malfunctioned and landed on him, inside a metal factory in Shahdara on Wednesday.

Co workers spotted Shiv Kumar Gupta with his head stuck beneath the lift and shouting for help. By the time they managed to raise the lift and take him out, the victim was bleeding badly due to head injuries. He was rushed to a local hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.

The police has registered a case against unknown persons under IPC Sections 287 and 304-(a). Even as police questioned labourers at the factory and the post-mortem was conducted, allegations of lack of safety precautions at the site emerged. “We have not made any arrest so far. But if allegations of negligence are proven, action will be taken against the factory owner,” said Additional DCP (Shahdara) Ved Prakash Surya.

The complainant, Amar Dayal Shah, one of the workers, alleged in the FIR that the owner of the metal factory located in Friends Colony near GTB Enclave had not provided any safety equipment to workers.

He further alleged, “There is no lift operator at the factory. The gate at the entrance of the lift is missing and anyone could have fallen inside. There are no permanent structures around the lift area, and the owner usually goes for a quick fix rather than look after the safety of workers.”

Gupta is survived by his parents., who conducted his last rites on Friday.

D13