CST foot overbridge collapse: Structural auditor of BMC arrested for negligence
At least six people were killed and 32 injured after a portion of an overhead pedestrian bridge outside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) came crashing down.
Neeraj Kumar Desai, structural auditor of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC )has been arrested for negligence leading to CST foot over bridge collapse that killed six people.
Neeraj Kumar Desai has been booked under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (culpable homicide not amounting to murder).
DCP Abhishek Trimukhe said, "The expert is involved in the case. He knew his negligence can lead to people's death. CP Mumbai is taking a daily review of this investigation. We have recorded a statement of few MCGM officers. Further investigation is on."
The statement of Chief Engineer (bridges), Sanjay Darade has been recorded by the police. Desai has been arrested as he did the audit and is also a partner in DD Desia firm.
A preliminary report into the collapse submitted by the BMC had said that the structural audit of the foot overbridge at CST was not carried out correctly. It suggested that major lapses occurred when the structural audit of the bridge was carried out on August 13, 2018.
Six persons were killed and 35 injured after a section of a foot overbridge near a busy train station in south Mumbai collapsed during evening rush hour on March 14, officials said.
Also read: CST railway station foot overbridge to be demolished today
ALSO WATCH| CST overbridge collapse: Shiv Sena blames rising population for growing pressure on Mumbai's infrastructure