Mumbai: Part of metro pillar collapses in Mulund; auto-rickshaw, car hit, several injured

Mumbai: A major accident occurred during metro construction work in Mumbai's Mulund (West) area on Saturday afternoon. A portion of the cement from a metro pillar under construction on LBS Road suddenly broke off and fell on an autorickshaw and a car passing beneath. According to officials, one person died and three others were injured in the incident.

When, where and how did the tragedy happen?

The incident occurred near the Johnson & Johnson company. According to initial information, the incident was reported around 12:20 pm. Three to four people in the autorickshaw are feared injured in the accident. The accident occurred on LBS Road in Mulund West. During construction, a portion of the metro pillar fell on an auto rickshaw and a car, causing extensive damage to both vehicles.

According to a fire brigade officer present at the scene, the deceased has been identified as Ramdhan Yadav. The injured are Rajkumar Indrajit Yadav, Mahendra Pratap Yadav, and Deepa Ruhiya. Rajkumar is in critical condition and has been admitted to a nearby hospital and is in the ICU. Mahendra and Ruhiya are in stable condition. Line 4 is a metro route under construction from Wadala in south-central Mumbai to neighboring Thane. A large section of it passes over LBS Road, connecting areas like Ghatkopar, Vikhroli, Bhandup, Mulund, and more.

How did the authorities respond?

Upon receiving the information, the Mumbai Fire Brigade, local police, Metro Authority personnel, ward staff, and the 108 ambulance service arrived at the scene. Relief and rescue operations began immediately. Police cordoned off the surrounding area, diverted traffic, and began clearing debris from the scene. Currently, the police and relevant agencies are investigating the cause of the accident. They are also investigating whether safety standards were being followed during the construction work.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority issued a statement regarding the incident. It stated that a portion of the pillar fell on a passing auto rickshaw near Pier 196, near the Mulund Fire Station, near the metro line construction site, at 12:15 pm. According to the statement, the metro project team is on the spot and is working with the BMC and disaster management authorities to carry out relief work and secure the site. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.

What did the Congress say?

Meanwhile, Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad criticized the state government over the incident and questioned whether life has become so cheap for Mumbai residents. In a post on Instagram, she said officials were more focused on publicity than ensuring public safety. The Lok Sabha MP demanded accountability from officials and expressed concern about alleged lapses in safety measures at the site, especially given the heavy traffic in the area. She also questioned whether quality and technical safety standards are being ignored under pressure to complete metro construction quickly, and said that frequent announcements of investigations after such incidents are not enough.