KOCHI: Nearly a month after the lift accident at Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) in which a migrant labourer was killed, the three-member panel appointed by the varsity to probe the issue is yet to submit its report.
While appointing the panel on the day of the incident on April 19, Cusat vice-chancellor Dr. J. Letha had promised that the panel headed by School of Engineering professor George Mathew would submit the report in two weeks. However, this has failed to materialise.
Interestingly the university came to understand after appointing the panel that one of its members had gone to the US. Later this Civil department teacher was replaced with another one. Cusat registrar Dr. S. David Peter told DC on Tuesday that the panel head has informed him that the report will be submitted in a week.
“Now some employee organisations have informed that they also want to depose before the committee. They will be heard on Thursday,” Mr Peter said.
The police investigation into the case has been concluded and three officials of the engineering wing of Cusat and two others were arrested and then let off on bail. The arrested are assistant executive engineer, assistant engineer, overseer, contractor and supervisor.
“It has been identified as supervisory failure. The charge sheet against the accused will soon be filed in the Kalamassery Judicial First Class Magistrate Court,” said Kalamassery SI Ratheesh R. Palanivel, 50, of Velipuram, Tamil Nadu was killed in the accident. The site supervisor Ratheesh, 32, from Tripunithura, sustained multiple injuries.
