Four Builders Arrested After the Demise of Three Labourers in Ahmedabad

Four real estate builders were arrested on Monday in Ahmedabad after the death of three construction workers at the site in the Naroda cave-in but were released on bail.

A resident of Rajasthan, Dungar Baranda, lost his wife and two of his family members in an accident at the construction site because of the builder's negligence.

Naroda police filed an FIR against Tarun Patel, Anil Patel, Suresh Patel, and Ashwin Suthar under IPC sections 304 A (for death by negligence) and 114 (presence of abettor during the offence). According to Naroda inspector S J Bhatiya, these four culprits were arrested after the complaint but were later released on bail because this offence is bailable.

Inspector S J Bhatia also said that Dungar Baranda filed the complaint against them on Saturday, and he said that the construction work of the basement at Fortune Empire was finished. The work on the floor's ceiling was almost done at the construction site. The digging process was nearly 25 feet, and there was no source of precautions against that excavated soil.

In the accident, Baranda's wife, Jivi, and his two family members, Kalu and Natwar, were buried under that excavated soil. After some time, they were declared dead after going to a Naroda hospital.

A Secretary of the workers' body, Vipul Pandya, said, "Police should set an example by taking strict action against the builder because there was no safety for labourers, and the builder continued work at the site despite the possibility of disaster due to rain. The builder should pay damages to the victim's families."

Further, he also said, "In 2022, 45 construction labourers lost their lives due to accidents at sites. Many builders do not follow the safety rules listed under the building and other construction workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act 1966."