Between 11 p.m. on Monday and the early hours of Tuesday, a crane girder launcher fell on them on the Samruddhi Motorway near Shahapur in Thane.
The mishap occurred when nine engineers and workmen were launching the girder on the under-construction highway, according to Thane Disaster Response Force (TDRF) officials. Teams from the TDRF and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) raced to the scene to carry out rescue operations and recovered the dead 18 personnel.
“We received a call about a crane falling on workers, but it was later discovered that the girder launcher, girder, and entire structure had fallen on them.” The exact circumstances are still being investigated. A rescue mission is underway. “As of now, 18 bodies have been recovered,” said a TDRF official.
“It is a very unfortunate incident, and the reason why it happened is still unknown,” said Maharashtra minister Dada Bhuse, who arrived late at night to assess the situation. The rescue operation is underway.”
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has expressed his condolences for the fatalities and has given a 5 lakh ex-gratia payment to the deceased’s next of kin.
“The CM has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident,” the CMO said in a statement.
All of the labourers were from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. All technical teams and the Shahapur police are on the scene.
PM Narendra Modi expressed his condolences for the loss of life and offered an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each slain person and Rs 50,000 to those injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic accident in Shahapur, Maharashtra.” My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of those who died. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been hurt. “NDRF and local administration are working at the scene of the mishap to ensure proper assistance to those affected,” he added on Twitter.
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