Patna Metro Tragedy

In the aftermath of the recent Patna Metro tunnel accident, CPI(ML) MLC Shashi Yadav and AICCTU National Secretary Ranvijay Kumar have sharply criticized Larsen & Toubro (L&T), the company responsible for the metro project, for blaming the incident on an 'Act of God' while filing complaints against workers involved in protest demanding justice. The leaders condemned the company's move to label workers as "goons" and file baseless lawsuits against them, terming the action a violation of trust and prior agreements.

The accident, which occurred on October 30, resulted from severe negligence in adhering to safety protocols during the construction of the metro tunnel. A machine brake failure led to the deaths of two workers, Vijay Behera and Manoj, both from Odisha, and injuries to seven others.

Initially, on October 29, after CPIML-AICCTU intervention and workers’ protest, the L&T's Patna Metro Project Head, Alok Dey, admitted in a written agreement that lapses in safety standards led to the accident and even issued an apology. However, in a surprising reversal, L&T now describes the incident as an 'Act of God' in a report filed at the Pirbahore Police Station. This move has triggered outrage among worker leaders and rights groups.

MLC Shashi Yadav and Ranvijay Kumar emphasized that this shift in narrative by L&T is an attempt to escape accountability. “This is not an ‘Act of God’—it is an ‘Act of Fraud.’ The company’s blatant disregard for safety and its attempt to deflect blame are disgraceful,” Comrade Shashi Yadav stated.

Leaders highlighted that instead of adhering to the terms of the October 30 agreement, L&T has resorted to targeting workers who played a role in the post-accident rescue and negotiations. The project manager filed a case against four individuals—Rajesh Kumar Sah, Saroj, Ankar Kumar, and Devendra Ram— who were part of the workers’ protest demanding justice. "The false and baseless charges filed against workers will not go uncontested," Comrade Ranvijay declared. “We will challenge this legally and submit a comprehensive report on the investigation and demands to the state government soon.”

They further called for an independent investigation into the accident to ensure impartiality and transparency. The workers’ leaders demanded that the Bihar government obtain and publish the full list of laborers employed at the site, as a measure of accountability and protection. “The state government must file charges against L&T for its criminal negligence in safety protocols, and the fraudulent cases against the workers must be withdrawn immediately,” the statement read.

The accident has raised concerns over the general safety practices in large-scale infrastructure projects in Bihar and the treatment of laborers who bear the brunt of these projects’ shortcomings. The call for justice aims to hold L&T accountable while ensuring that the rights and safety of workers remain a priority.



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