Kochi metro worksite accident: SHRC registers suo motu case

State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) Chairperson Alexander Thomas has sought the intervention of the Ernakulam District Collector for a probe by the Revenue Divisional Officer into an incident in which a woman sustained injuries after an iron piece fell on her car at the worksite of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) on Civil Line Road near Padivattom.

The Commission sought an inquiry into the cause of the accident, the nature of the woman’s injuries, the damage caused to her vehicle, the status of her compensation, and the steps taken by KMRL and its contractor to avoid similar incidents, the SHRC said in a release.

The Collector was asked to file a comprehensive report before the Commission within three weeks.

In its directive, the Commission said the KMRL managing director would file a separate comprehensive report before the Commission within three weeks. It further ordered that a senior officer representing the Collector and the KMRL Managing Director be personally present to explain the factual details of the case at the next sitting of the Commission, to be held at the PWD Rest House, Pathadipalam, Kalamassery, on July 14.

The case was registered suo motu by the Commission based on a newspaper report.