Vikrant Singh Rathore

New Delhi: Tragedy struck the Gokulpuri metro station on the Pink Line in New Delhi, as one person lost their life and four others sustained injuries when a section of the station's wall collapsed on Thursday.

The incident occurred around 11 am, according to officials from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). A portion of the metro station's wall gave way, crashing down onto the road below. Emergency services rushed to the scene, promptly transporting the injured to a nearby hospital. Despite efforts to save them, one individual succumbed to their injuries.

In response to the devastating event, DMRC authorities swiftly cleared the debris from the site. Additionally, two officials from the civil department of DMRC have been suspended pending further investigation into the cause of the collapse.

Acknowledging the severity of the situation, DMRC announced compensation measures for the victims and their families. A sum of Rs 15 lakh will be provided as ex gratia to the next of kin of the deceased, while Rs 2.5 lakh will be allocated for those grievously injured. Those with minor injuries will receive Rs 50,000 in compensation.

As a precautionary measure, train services along the small stretch from Maujpur to Shiv Vihar are being operated on a single line. This adjustment aims to facilitate repair work and address the damage caused to the Up platform at the Gokulpuri station, which has been temporarily closed for safety reasons.

The tragic incident underscores the importance of ensuring the structural integrity and safety of public infrastructure, particularly in high-traffic areas such as metro stations. Authorities have vowed to conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain the root cause of the collapse and prevent similar occurrences in the future.