Retired SBI Bank Manager Dies After Falling from 14th Floor in Faridabad

A 66-year-old retired bank manager named Khulwant Singh died in a tragic accident when a skywalk slab collapsed at the RPS Savana residential society in Sector 88, Faridabad. The incident occurred around 8 a.m. while he was watering plants on the skywalk connecting two towers of the complex.

How the Incident Happened

According to the police, Khulwant Singh was standing on the skywalk when a part of the slab suddenly collapsed. He fell from the 14th floor, approximately 50 meters, and died on the spot due to severe injuries. Residents who heard a loud crashing sound immediately informed the authorities. The police and fire brigade arrived quickly, secured the area, and began an investigation under Section 194 (unnatural death) of the Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita.

Khulwant Singh was a former manager at State Bank of India. He lived in the society with his only son, as his wife had passed away a few years ago. His body was sent for postmortem to Badshah Khan Civil Hospital in Faridabad.

Poor Maintenance of Society

Initial investigations suggest that the skywalk may have collapsed due to poor maintenance. Residents had previously raised concerns with the Resident Welfare Association (RWA) about the weakening condition of the structure. However, according to police, no action was taken to address these warnings. Inspector Arvind Kumar, Station House Officer of BPTP police station, said that the skywalk was originally built as a fire escape and had been closed for regular use. The deceased had reportedly placed potted plants there and used to water them regularly, which may have contributed to rusting and weakening of the structure.

Hemant Kumar, the RWA secretary of RPS Savana, confirmed that they had been regularly alerting the developer about the deteriorating condition of the skywalk since 2021. He also mentioned that advisories were issued to residents asking them not to place plants or pots on the structure due to safety risks.

Safety Concerns in High-Rise Societies

This incident highlights ongoing safety concerns in high-rise residential buildings. Just a month ago, in Noida, all residential societies were directed to remove flower pots from balcony railings after a child in Pune died when a flower pot fell on him. As per the May 13 order, in case of accidents caused by such negligence, an FIR would be filed against both the flat owner and the apartment association’s president or builder. Although this move was welcomed, Resident Welfare Associations and Apartment Owners Associations have stated that they do not have legal authority to enforce these rules among residents.