Surat: A 35-year-old man and his nine-year-old daughter were killed on Saturday after a heavy metal plate fell from an under-construction bullet train bridge over the Tapi River near Kathore village on the outskirts of the city.The deceased were identified as Mohsin Shaikh and his daughter, Huma. Both sustained critical injuries when the metal plate reportedly slipped from a crane and crashed onto their boat while they were fishing in the river.According to police, Shaikh, his daughter and his mother were travelling in a small dinghy through a narrow water channel between a bridge pillar and the riverbank when the incident occurred. At the same time, a metal plate being lifted by a crane at the construction site fell directly onto their boat. Shaikh’s mother survived the mishap.A large number of locals gathered at the spot soon after the incident. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared Shaikh and his daughter dead on arrival.Local residents alleged that the particular waterway had been kept open for the movement of local fishermen, as boat traffic between other pillars was restricted due to the ongoing construction work. They further claimed that adequate safety measures were not in place at the site, leading to the tragic accident.Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the incident.In a statement, the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) said, “At around 4.45 pm, construction work was underway on the Tapi River bridge when a workman heard a distress call from a woman. He immediately rushed to the spot and noticed a woman drowning in the river. One of the workers jumped into the water and successfully rescued her.”“During the rescue, it was reported that two other persons who were in the same boat had also fallen into the water. Meanwhile, local fishermen reached the location, retrieved the bodies and took them ashore. It was later learnt that both had succumbed to their injuries. The police have taken cognisance of the incident and are investigating the matter. NHSRCL and its contractor are extending full cooperation and support to the police in the ongoing investigation,” the statement added.
