A horrifying accident unfolded just past midnight near Kogilu Cross on the Bengaluru-Ballari Road, claiming the life of a 35-year-old autorickshaw driver named Khasim from Hegde Nagar. A massive girder, being transported on a trailer, fell during a U-turn and landed on the auto. The trailer driver, allegedly careless in securing the load, abandoned the vehicle and fled.

Around 12:10 am, the trailer (KA-01-AM-1910) was turning when the auto (KA-02-AL-4364) arrived. The girder, intended for metro work near Bagalur Cross, was improperly tied. As the trailer turned, the binding chain gave way. Khasim, seated inside, was crushed instantly. His passenger had luckily exited moments earlier to pay digitally and narrowly escaped.

Eyewitness Mohammed Adil recounted the terrifying moment, stating the passenger shouted a warning, but Khasim didn’t react in time. Police reached the scene by 2 am, used cranes to extract the body, and circulated Khasim’s details on WhatsApp to reach his kin.

About 50 agitated locals gathered, criticizing metro officials for failing to maintain transport safety and not showing up at the site for hours. Public outrage intensified over the avoidable nature of the accident.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) confirmed the girder fell while being transported from their Vadiyarpura casting yard. They expressed sorrow, promised compensation to Khasim’s family, and emphasized their commitment to strengthening safety protocols to prevent future mishaps.