One year after a concrete canopy collapsed at Novi Sad railway station, killing 16 people, a large public commemoration was held. The incident, which occurred following a renovation of the facility, has led to regular protests across Serbia and recent criminal charges against 13 individuals. The government has denied accusations of corruption related to the disaster.
Commemoration of the Tragedy
Tens of thousands of people gathered in Novi Sad on the anniversary of the railway station roof collapse. The event focused on quiet commemoration for the 16 victims, who ranged in age from six to 77. At 11:52 (10:52 GMT), the exact time of the disaster, attendees observed a 16-minute silence, one minute for each person who died. Following the silence, relatives placed flowers at the front of the station. While the rubble from the collapsed canopy has been cleared, the building otherwise shows signs of the catastrophe, with twisted metal and broken glass still visible.
The Novi Sad Station Project
Novi Sad station had undergone renovation as part of a high-speed railway project intended to connect Belgrade and Budapest, reducing travel time to less than three hours. President Aleksandar Vučić and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban jointly opened the renovated facility in 2022. The station's updated design retained its original Yugoslav-era architectural form.
Public Reaction and Protests
The collapse of the station's canopy, part of a prominent infrastructure project, has been a significant point of public concern. Following the disaster, protests emerged across Serbia, with participants carrying placards addressing corruption. University students subsequently assumed leadership of these movements.
Aleksa, a 23-year-old management student at Novi Sad University, stated that students are perceived as the most trusted group in the country, contributing to the protests' sustained nature, unlike some previous movements led by political opposition parties. Initially, students demanded accountability from authorities, and their current calls include fresh elections. They plan to propose a list of independent, expert candidates to form a technocratic government, which they believe would address cronyism and corruption within Serbian institutions.
Legal and International Response
In September, 13 individuals, including former construction, infrastructure, and Transport Minister Goran Vesić, were charged in connection with the collapse.
Last month, a resolution from the European Parliament called for full and transparent legal proceedings. The resolution also sought an assessment of "potential corruption or negligence" and emphasized "the need to examine more broadly the extent to which corruption led to the lowering of safety standards and contributed to this tragedy." The Serbian government has refuted allegations of corruption.