Metro rail fatality reignites safety concerns after similar pad collapse in September

Metro rail authorities have gone on high alert after a pedestrian was killed when a bearing pad fell from the elevated rail line in Farmgate -- barely a month after a similar collapse disrupted train services for hours.

The accident occurred around 12:30pm on Sunday when the heavy rubber pad dropped from above the Farmgate Metro Station.

Mobarak Hossain, chief of Tejgaon Police, said the victim was walking along the footpath in front of the Krishibid Institution when the pad struck him, killing him instantly.

Witnesses said a nearby tea stall was also damaged by the impact.

Bearing pads, made from layers of rubber and steel, are fitted between pillars and viaducts to absorb vibration and stabilise elevated structures. Each can weigh more than 100kg, according to engineers.

Sunday’s tragedy follows a similar incident on Sept 18, when a bearing pad fell in Khamarbari, forcing authorities to suspend metro operations between Agargaon and Motijheel for about 11 hours.

When reporters asked whether the recommendations of the previous probe committee had been implemented, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Managing Director Faruque Ahmed said: “All measures were taken as per the previous committee’s report. All the pillars were physically inspected by experts.”

Standing beside him at the scene, Road Transport and Bridges Advisor Fouzul Kabir Khan raised his finger and asked, “So how did this happen?”

On questions about accountability after the September incident, Faruque replied: “It was said the incident occurred during the defect liability period, so the contractor was given the chance to rectify it. They said they had done so.”

He added, “The Japanese contractors handled the work. The new committee will also review the earlier report.”

A five-member probe committee, led by Bridges Department Secretary and former Metro Rail MD Abdur Rouf, has been tasked with submitting its findings within two weeks.