PhD Scholar’s Death At Lothal Excavation Site: IIT Delhi Professor Booked (image:x.com/Manishafaculty)
Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi Professor Yama Dixit has been booked for causing death by negligence charge over the death of PhD scholar Surbhi Verma in Gujarat’s Lothal. Verma, died in last November following the collapse of an excavation pit during a research trip.
According to Ahmedabad Police, no permission was taken from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to dig the area around the protected Harappan site at Lothal, Indian Express reports.
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The incident occurred on November 27, while conducting palaeoclimatology research just outside the Lothal Harappan valley civilization site, in Ahmedabad district. As per the reports, four-member team were collecting soil, samples, suddenly excavation pit collapsed and filled with water. As Dixit was rescued and hospitalised with head injuries, Verma lost her life to asphyxiation.
An FIR was registered on Sunday (March 23) at the Koth police station in Rural Ahmedabad based on a complaint Surabhi’s father, Ram Khelawan Verma. Dixit was booked under BNS sections 106(1) (causing death by negligence) and 125(a) (endangering life or personal safety of others). Police officials said that Dixit will be sent a notice to appear for questioning at the police station.
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Meanwhile, PN Gohil of Koth police station said that they were not found any safety equipment, even the most basic safety harness or helmets (hard hats) at the mishap site.
“We have filed the FIR based on the facts that neither any permission was sought from the ASI, under whose jurisdiction the restricted area falls, nor were any safety equipment used during the research expedition. Additionally, no other emergency authorities such as the police or fire brigade were informed about this excavation,” Gohil told Indian Express.
