GRP probing if contractor had ensured safety of labourers

A day after three labourers were mowed down by an express train between Goregaon  and Malad, the Government Railway Police (GRP) is probing if labourers’ safety was neglected by the contractor assigned the track repair and maintenance work. The GRP has taken the contractor’s statement and is also probing the exact cause of the death of the labourers.

On Saturday, Anita Shinde, 32, Jaya Khatawase, 35, and Shivani Bhoryalay,18, died after a Bandra-Indore Holiday Express train mowed them down. Another labourer, Sunita Bhoralay, was injured in the incident and rushed to Shatabdi Hospital for treatment.

“The contractor should have provided dedicated labourers to alert those working on the tracks. We will suggest this to the Railways, so that such mishaps do not occur again,” said a senior Borivali GRP officer.

Hemant Badhwankar, GRP spokesperson, said, “We are probing the contract agreement signed between the labourers and the contractor. Offense will be registered against the contractor if any evidence against him surfaces.”