The central commemorative gathering marking the anniversary of the deadly canopy collapse at the Novi Sad railway station has concluded, with thousands of citizens, students, and activists calling for justice and accountability.
The tragedy, which occurred on 1 November 2024, claimed the lives of 16 people, including children, and left one person seriously injured. Today, participants gathered at 16 symbolic locations across Novi Sad, before converging at the railway station to pay tribute to the victims.
During the event, students and protesters demanded that President Aleksandar Vučić and authorities take responsibility for the long-standing negligence and corruption in infrastructure projects that contributed to the collapse. Family members of the victims, including Dijana Hrka, mother of one of those killed, spoke out, describing the incident as a crime, not an accident, and demanding that those responsible be held accountable.
The commemorations featured a 16-minute moment of silence, the laying of wreaths, and the release of 16 lanterns into the Danube, one for each victim. A banner at Petrovaradin Fortress read: “See you tomorrow and every other day until there is justice”, underscoring the community’s determination to seek accountability.
Students and citizens who participated emphasized that the gathering was not only a tribute but also a public call for change, highlighting failures in governance, infrastructure oversight, and public safety. Security and organization were maintained by volunteers and veteran groups, ensuring the event remained peaceful.
Engineering investigations have confirmed that the canopy collapsed due to structural failure caused by corrosion and mismanagement, ruling out sabotage or terrorism. Yet, protesters insist that political leaders must answer for systemic negligence and corruption that allowed such a disaster to occur.
As the crowd dispersed, the message was clear: the people of Novi Sad and Serbia will continue to demand justice for the victims until those responsible are held accountable.
