Dead workers' families to get 10 years' salary

Dubai: The families of the seven workers who died in an accident at a construction site near Dubai Marina on Thursday will get 10 years' salary in compensation, a company representative said on Friday.

The dead workers were all Indians, the company and Indian consulate officials have confirmed.

"All our workers have additional insurance. As per our company policy the families of dead workers will get 120 months salary in compensation. The medical expenses of those injured will also be taken care off by us," the company official said.

Seven workers died and 19 were injured when a portion of a wall near a bridge under construction collapsed on Thursday at 6.20pm.

Bridge intact

"It was not the bridge that collapsed as reported by a section of the media. A wall was hit by a crane carrying steel frames and the wall collapsed. Of the 19 injured about 15 workers suffered minor injurious while the remaining four workers suffered fractures. They will be given sick leave," said the company representative.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in a statement issued soon after the accident said human error was to blame. Mattar Al Tayer, RTA Chief, said the upper part of the bridge collapsed because the iron rods placed on it were too heavy.

"We have asked close friends and relatives of the dead workers to get in touch with their families and convey the tragic news," said the company representative.

Al Tayer yesterday visited the injured at Rashid Hospital. Three workers are still receiving treatment and their condition is good, doctors said. Most of the other injured workers who were discharged were cases of broken bones and cuts and bruises.

Al Tayer was accompanied by senior RTA officials. He listened about their condition from their supervisors and assured them that the injured workers will also get all their rights. B.S. Mubarak, Indian labour consul, who visited the injured workers at the hospital on Thursday evening confirmed the amount of compensation.

"The consulate was there to get first-hand information of the situation and get in touch with the company officials. Repatriation of the dead bodies will be done either today or tomorrow depending on the police clearance," he said.

T. Rajanna, a 32 year-old Indian steel fitter who suffered a fracture to his right leg, said the accident occurred because of the crane carrying heavy iron rods hitting a portion of the bridge under construction.

Sitting in his room along with five roommates at his accommodation in Jebel Ali, Rajanna said he did not relay the news of the accident to his family. "I don't want them to worry about me and spoil their Diwali celebrations. It is an auspicious day," said Rajanna who had joined work a week ago after spending a three-month vacation with his family in Karimnagar district in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

He said that he was stuck under a heavy iron rod and was unconscious. He was treated by paramedics in the ambulance while being taken to the hospital.

"The iron rod was over my leg and I was in great pain. I tried to pull by leg out but it was impossible as the pain was making me dizzy. I regained consciousness in the ambulance," said Rajanna who was discharged from the Rashid hospital with his leg in plaster at 2am. "The company officials brought me to the accommodation. The hospital has asked to come back next Sunday for a check up."

Toll list

The following are the names of the seven dead workers (five among them hailed from the South Indian state of Chennai, the other tow from North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, a Central Indian state).