Serbian engineer blames state for Novi Sad railway station collapse

Serbian engineer Zoran Đajić confirmed that he has been summoned by the Basic Court in Novi Sad as a witness regarding the collapse of a concrete roof at the Novi Sad railway station a few days ago. The incident resulted in the death of 15 people and left two others seriously injured, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

Đajić, who worked as a consultant for the CIP Institute on the reconstruction of the Railway Station building until March 2023, was the first to warn about the poor quality of the work carried out. He also refuted official claims that the concrete roof was not intended for reconstruction, according to beta.rs.

"The deaths of 15 people were caused by the organized actions of the Serbian state. I will appear in court to present my opinion as a witness based on my knowledge as a participant in the reconstruction works at the railway station. The building, the collapse of the concrete roof, and the deaths of 15 citizens are the fault of a corrupt criminal organization led by Aleksandar Vučić and his associates Miloš Vučević, Tomislav Momirović, Goran Vesić, Maja Gojković, and many others involved in a criminal alliance aimed at material gain at the expense of unprofessional and low-quality work at the railway station," Đajić said. He added that he hopes the participants in the criminal organization will be adequately punished.

Miodrag Jovanović, a university professor in Belgrade, also spoke about the incident, emphasizing the importance of addressing President Aleksandar Vučić's alleged deception of the public.

"What must remain in focus is the fact that the head of this country, President Aleksandar Vučić, lied to the people, claiming that the concrete roof had not been reconstructed. This is where it all began, and it must not be forgotten," he told N1.

In Serbia, more than 30 state universities have officially entered blockades following the railway station accident in Novi Sad. Students have gathered to demand the full release of documentation related to the station's reconstruction.

The Novi Sad train station, originally built in 1964, has undergone two renovations in recent years. It was inaugurated by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and his populist ally, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, over two years ago as a major stop on a planned high-speed rail line between Belgrade and Budapest.