The under-construction shuttering of a big pillar of the Bhara Kahu Bypass project in Islamabad collapsed, killing one labour while trapping five others in the rubble.
Rescue teams rushed to the incident site and pulled three labourers out of rubble while efforts to save the remaining two were going on. The injured persons were taken to a nearby hospital after the incident.
CDA Chairman and Chief Commissioner Noorul Amin Mangal also took notice of the incident and ordered an inquiry. He directed that the eight-member investigation team, to be headed by Deputy Commissioner Arfan Nawaz, should name the people responsible for this tragedy.
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Meanwhile, the incident has raised alarm among netizens who have taken to Twitter to raise concern over the execution of the Bhara Kahu Bypass project and the quality of materials used if a shuttering of one of the main pillars collapsed.
ICT Admin confirms one death in the collapse of one of the pillars of the under construction Barakahu Bypass. Raises basic concern over the quality of work on the entire project: https://t.co/EvuJ0GLrSp
— Ilhan Niaz (@IlhanNiaz) February 25, 2023
ناقص میٹریل اور کمیشن کا شاخسانہ،
سی ڈی اے کے زیر تعمیر بہارہ کہو بائی پاس منصوبے کے بڑے پل کی شٹرنگ گرگئی، متعدد مزدور ملبے تلے دب گئے pic.twitter.com/IpiqCqnUZS— Asghar Hayat (@EngrAsgharHayat) February 25, 2023
بہارہ کہو کا زیر تعمیر پل گر گیا 8 مزدور ملبے تلے دب گئے چئیرمین سی ڈی اے @Noormengal_ روزانہ دورہ کرتا تھے جلد منصوبہ مکمل کیا جائے اب جو مزدور جان سے گئے اسکا ذمہ دار کون ہو گا؟مقدمہ کس پر درج کیا جائیگا؟کیا غریب مزدوروں کا خون اسی طرح بکتا رہے گا؟ pic.twitter.com/YC13m4OmRa
— Tahir Naseer (@Tahirnaser) February 25, 2023
Very alarming. The main road in Bhara Kahu going towards Murree where they're building this bridge has been ruined since the last 5 months. Whoever awarded this construction project to the contractor must be investigated. Imagine the quality, if one of the pillars has fallen! https://t.co/QH7Hbib4R2
— Mariam's Madness (@MaddyWithKhan) February 25, 2023
Moreover, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also become the target of criticism. As per the initial information, PM Shehbaz Sharif had expressed displeasure over ‘slow speed’ at the multi-billion Bhara Kahu Bypass work.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting to review the development projects in Islamabad and directed the authorities concerned to ensure the timely completion of development projects in the federal capital. He also reiterated his instructions for the early completion of the Bhara Kahu Bypass.
As a result, Prime Minster Shehbaz Sharif’s frequent calls for early completion of development projects apparently prompted Chief Commissioner Capt (R) Mengal to issue directives for speedy work, setting the completion deadline for March 23.
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As a result, construction work on the Bhara Kahu Bypass was accelerated which allegedly resulted in some loopholes and flaws, leading to the collapse of the shuttering of a pillar, associated with the bypass bridge.
The 5.6 km-long Bhara Kahu bypass (including a 1km flyover) starts from Murree Road at Malpur and culminates on Murree Road near the Jugi bus stop from where the flyover begins till the end of the local bazaar towards Murree.