Three Workers Dead After 300-Tonne Concrete Span At MRT Construction Site Collapses

The board of directors of Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp) says it will only consider the resignation of chief executive officer Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid once the investigation into last Monday’s fatal accident at the Kota Damansara MRT site is completed and made public.

The board said it had evaluated Azhar’s performance since taking over as CEO on September 1, 2011 and found that “MRT Corp was heading in the correct direction”. Under Azhar’s leadership, the Klang Valley MRT project is ahead of schedule and has reached 50 per cent completion, it said. “The Board also found the financial management of the project commendable,” it said, adding that Azhar has been directed to continue serving in his position as CEO.

themalaymailonline.com

Three engineers tasked with supervising an MRT site at Sungai Buloh that saw the deaths of three Bangladeshi workers last week, have tendered their resignations. The three are, project engineer Ismail Hassan, senior resident engineer David Douglas and resident engineer Norrizan Ismail, resigned on Aug 22, three days after the incident.

MMC-Gamuda Bhd, in a statement today, said Project Director for PDP (SBK Line) Ian Thoms has decided that he will not seek an extension for his contract of service.

astroawani.com

Two of the three Bangladeshi workers who died in the accident at an MRT site in Kota Damansara were childhood friends reported the Daily Star of Bangladesh. The paper reported that Elahi Hossain, 31 and Alauddin Mollik, 34 came from Pabna in Bangladesh and only just arrived in Malaysia in May.

The article said the duo had not only grown up together, but went to school together and later on in life decided to go abroad in search of employment and a better life.

therakyatpost.com

“They couldn’t make a good living by working in the country, so they decided to go abroad in search of a better life. “When they were there, they couldn’t spend time together in the daytime. So, they would meet in the evenings after work regularly. “They argued sometimes over various issues. But they still made all their decisions together,” said Milon Hossain, elder brother of Elahi.

therakyatpost.com

According to the Daily Star Alauddin was married with three children aged between one and six years while Elahi was single. “My husband could not hear our little daughter Ashfa speak the word Baba (father). He asked me at noon on Monday if our daughter had learnt to speak,” said Shampa Khatun, wife of Alauddin. “I can't see my future. How will I take care of my daughter?” she added.

The daily also reported that their families spent Tk 4 lakh (RM16, 600) each to send them to Malaysia. “I have lost my son. I have lost my dreams and everything,” said Elahi's father Abdus Sattar, 70.

The bodies of the three Bangladeshi workers, Mohamad Faruk Khan, 38, Mohammad Alauddin Mollik, 34, and Mohammad Elahi Hossain, 27, who died in a construction site incident on Monday night will arrive in Dhaka, Bangladesh, this morning.

themalaymailonline.com

An MRT spokesman said the company and the contractor at the site of the incident, Syarikat Muhibbah Perniagaan dan Pembinaan (SMPP), had been liaising with the Bangladeshi High Commission to make arrangements for the repatriation of the remains. “The families of the victims have been informed and they will be on hand to receive the remains at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka,” the spokesman said.

themalaymailonline.com

SMPP held tahlil prayers for the victims on Tuesday night and performed the solat jenazah ghaib before the bodies were flown to Bangladesh.

themalaymailonline.com

Initial investigation into the collapse of the concrete span at the MRT worksite found that the contractors did not comply with standard operating procedures (SOP).

msn.com

Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) deputy director-general Zabidi Md Adib said safety inspectors found that no engineers or supervisors were present to supervise the installation of the parapet wall. "The installation of the parapet wall should be supervised by qualified engineers to ensure that it is carried out according to procedures," he said when contacted by Bernama today.

themalaysianinsider.com

DOSH also issued a "Stop Work Order" at the construction site until a complete investigation was carried out while the contractors must provide solutions to prevent a recurrence. "The Stop Work Order is issued to the main contractor, sub-contractors and the project owner, Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp)."

themalaysianinsider.com

Zabidi said if the investigation found any violation of the law, then the culprits responsible would be prosecuted in court.

msn.com

Meanwhile, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the main issue was the contractors lack of concern for safety. "The issue of safety in the workplace is very important and everyone involved must comply with all procedures to prevent a recurrence."

themalaysianinsider.com

The Fire and Rescue Department has found two more bodies buried at an MRT construction site in Kota Damansara following the collapse of a 300 tonne concrete span on Monday night.

abnxcess.com

Selangor FRD asst director of operations Mohd Sani Harul said the bodies of Mohamed Faruk Khan and Mohammad Alauddin Mollik were found at 1.35 pm today. "The two bodies were taken to Sungai Buloh Hospital for post-mortem," he said when contacted by Bernama.

The body of another Bangladeshi construction worker, Mohammad Elahi Hossain, was found by the search and rescue team at 2.30am and was taken to the same hospital.

Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) chief executive officer Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid has tendered his resignation following the Kota Damansara MRT incident which killed 3 workers.

nst.com.my

According to the firm’s corporate communications department, Azhar’s resignation will take effect tomorrow. “Yes I have resigned, because of yesterday’s accident,”. Azhar told Malay Mail Online when contacted for verification.

themalaymailonline.com

The body of Bangladeshi worker Mohammad Elahi Hossain has been recovered at the MRT construction site near Kota Damansara where a 650-tonne beam collapsed. Mohammad Elahi’s body which was found at 2.34am and taken to the Sungai Buloh Hospital for post-mortem.

“The body of the Bangladeshi national has been sent to the Sungai Buloh Hospital for post mortem, while efforts are still ongoing to search for Mohamad Faruk Khan and Mohammad Alauddin Molik who were also working on the span during the accident. “The operation at present involves cutting eight tendons loosen the 14 segmented box girders (SBG) that are stressed together to form the fallen span,” the statement said.

Selangor Fire and Rescue department operations director Mohd Sani Harul said he could not confirm whether the two workers were alive or not.

The search for two other workers, Mohamad Faruk Khan and Mohammad Alauddin Mollik, also Bangladesh nationals, is continuing. Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) said in a statement later this morning that search and rescue efforts for the trapped workers continued throughout the night and this morning after the 8.30pm crash yesterday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has called for a comprehensive investigation on the MRT construction site incident in Kota Damansara last night.

nst.com.my

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations), Mohd Sani Harul said firemen were at the scene to carry out search and rescue operation. The incident occurred at around 8.30pm while construction of the parapet was being carried out on the MRT elevated guideway.

nst.com.my

"The incident occurred at around 8.30pm while construction of the parapet was being carried out on the MRT elevated guideway. A span of the guideway had dislodged from its piers and fallen on the ground below. The span, which was made up of 14 units of segmented box girders, was 38m in length and weighed 300 tonnes."

"MRT Corp confirms that three workers are unaccounted for and are believed to be trapped underneath. Rescue efforts are currently on-going and an emergency response team is on standby at the site."

Their names are Mohamad Faruk Khan, Mohammad Elahi Hossain and Mohammad Alauddin Mollik.

themalaysianinsider.com

"No members of the public were involved in the incident as there is no access to the site. The location of the incident site is within the former RRI land near the future Kwasa Damansara MRT Station. Investigations are currently being carried out. An update will be issued with further details," MRT Corp said in a statement.

themalaysianinsider.com

“Although investigations are under way, MRT Corp assumes full responsibility for the incident. Once investigations are completed, action on those responsible will be taken,” he said.

themalaysianinsider.com

The work package contractor for Package V1 is Syarikat Muhibbah Perniagaan dan Pembinaan Sdn Bhd.

nst.com.my