Lintel collapse at Kannauj railway station: 28 rescued, 6 seriously injured; SP blames BJP

A lintel under construction collapsed at Kannauj Railway Station on Saturday, injuring at least 28 workers. The collapse occurred during the ongoing construction of a new terminal under the Amrit Bharat Yojana, a national initiative aimed at upgrading railway stations. The workers were engaged in slab casting when the incident took place. Rescue operations were swiftly carried out by local authorities, and emergency services were deployed immediately.

Kanpur Commissioner K Vijayendra Pandian confirmed that no fatalities were reported, with 28 workers rescued from the rubble. “Around 28 people have been rescued. They were admitted to the hospital. 15 have been discharged, and 6 are seriously injured but out of danger. No head injuries have been reported, though some have fractures,” he stated. The injured workers are receiving medical attention at the district hospital and medical college, with most being monitored for fractures and other injuries.

Uttar Pradesh Minister Rajni Tiwari confirmed that 24 workers were injured, and four of them were referred to the medical college for advanced care. She also assured that relief teams were continuing efforts to clear the site and assess any additional injuries. "An inquiry will be conducted, and those responsible for negligence will be punished," she added. The incident has prompted heightened scrutiny of safety measures during ongoing construction projects across the state.

In a critical response, Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav blamed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the negligence that led to the incident. He accused the BJP government of corruption and a lack of oversight, stating, “Safety should have been maintained during the construction, which was neglected, leading to this incident. This is a case of negligence and corruption on the part of the BJP.” Yadav further claimed that the outsourcing of the construction work and political pressures were factors in the compromised quality of the project.

Yadav’s remarks pointed to a wider issue of construction management, claiming that contractors were being forced to cut corners due to political influence and insufficient quality control. He added, “Contractors have to compromise on quality and safety measures due to outsourcing and BJP’s pressure. This is a direct failure of the government.” Authorities have assured that a full investigation is underway to determine the causes of the collapse.

The North Eastern Railway (NER) has announced compensation for the victims, with ₹50,000 for seriously injured workers and ₹5,000 for those with minor injuries. Ex-gratia payments are also being processed for the affected workers. The state government and railway officials have pledged to improve safety measures on ongoing projects and ensure accountability for any negligence. Rescue operations continued throughout the day, with drones and sniffer dogs deployed to assist in the search. Authorities have confirmed that the debris will be cleared soon, and the investigation will assess whether safety protocols were followed during construction.