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Worker dies as manhole collapses; four wounded

AJMAN — An Indian worker died and four others were injured when the wall of a manhole caved in on them in an under-construction building near the the Civil Defence Department in Mushrif Area in Ajman yesterday.

The workers were carrying out plastering work inside the manhole when the mishap happened.

While the 40-year-old Indian from Chennai, an employee of the Al Shulla Contracting Company, died on the spot, three others, all Egyptians, sustained serious injuries. Another Indian worker received minor injuries, police sources said.

The Ajman Police and Civil Defence teams rushed to the site and took the injured labourers to Khalifa Hospital.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Brigadier Mohammed Ali Jumaira, Head of fire stations and rescue at Ajman Civil Defence, said the workers were saved by removing the manhole. The rescue operation was witnessed by Shaikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Ajman Department of Municipality and Planning, and several top officials of the Municipality.

Doctors at the Khalifa Hospital said the condition of the three Egyptians who had sustained multiple fractures on their back and legs, was stable and they could be discharged from the hospital in a few days.

Commenting on the accident, Saif Salim Al Shamsi, Deputy Director of Ajman Municipality, said the contracting company was found guilty of failing to abide by the safety regulations at its work site.

The workers were not wearing protection helmets while carrying out their job, he noted, while adding that a full-scale investigation into the exact cause of the accident would be launched.

Hamad Al Shamsi, Director-General of Khalifa Hospital, said the accident had once again brought into focus the issue of occupational health and safety.

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