Umm Al Quwain: An Indian man was killed and three others injured when an unstable steel structure collapsed on the audience attending a music festival — Sangam 2010 — in front of the Dreamland Aqua Park here on Friday.
Nagaraj, 37, was rushed to the Umm Al Quwain Government Hospital in critical condition with serious head injuries and multiple fractures. He died at 10.15pm the same day.
The steel bars are reported to have fallen directly on the victim's head, trapping three others in the process. Jai Kumar, an eyewitness and a close friend of the victim, told Gulf News yesterday that Nagaraj was a Dubai resident who lived with his elder sister and her family. The victim, his sister and her family along with Kumar's family proceeded to Umm Al Quwain in two cars.
The tragedy occurred just as the group had finished parking their cars and entered the venue.
Unstable
Kumar said the steel bars comprised an arch that extended about 300 metres from the stage. The bars were not fixed to the ground, he said.
Suthakar Siddegowda, the victim's brother-in-law, is completing the formalities to receive the body and fly it back home to Bangalore. The victim's wife and family have been informed of the tragedy.
Siddegowda said a complaint against the organisers has been lodged with the Umm Al Quwain Police. He added that a labourer involved in the setting up of the location has been arrested.
The Al Salma Police Station in Umm Al Quwain has launched an investigation into the incident.
A senior police officer confirmed the accident to Gulf News, saying the three others sustained serious to moderate injuries.
He confirmed that the mishap was caused by steel bars falling on the audience at the venue's entrance.
Clarification: Premises rented
Dreamland Aqua Park has clarified that it did not have anything to do with the accident as it rented the area outside the park's premises to Alpha Group, the organiser of the function.
Gassan Al Kefti, the park's manager said that according to the contract signed with the organisers, the safety, security, the set-up of the area and the stage was the sole responsibility of the organisers. Alpha Group declined to comment when contacted by Gulf News.
