Mumbai: Crane Collapses Onto Kurla Homes And Rail Track, 10 Hurt

A major accident took place late night in the Qureshi Nagar area of Kurla, Mumbai. During construction work being carried out by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), a crane that was being used to shift a JCB machine suddenly went out of control and toppled onto nearby houses. Ten people were injured in the incident, though relief came in the fact that no one suffered serious injuries. The injured were admitted to Sion Hospital and Kurla Bhabha Hospital, and their condition is reported to be stable.

According to reports, the accident occurred around 2:30 am on Friday night at the MHADA building Buntara Bhavan, located behind Galaxy Apartment in Indira Nagar. During the construction work, a JCB machine was being moved to another location using the crane. In the process, the crane was unable to bear the weight of the JCB and suddenly toppled to one side. A part of the crane also fell onto a nearby railway track and an overhead electric line.

Kurla-Trombay Line Disrupted

Panic broke out in the area following the accident. Local residents rushed to the spot on hearing the sound of the crane falling, and the surrounding area was evacuated. People near the railway track were also immediately moved away.

According to Central Railway officials, a part of the crane fell on the single railway track between Kurla and Trombay, as well as on the overhead electric line. This track is mainly used for goods trains, so the accident has not affected Mumbai's local train services, which are running normally.

10 Reported Injured, Rescue Operation Under Way

Those injured in the accident were rushed to hospital for immediate treatment. Railway administration confirmed that nine people were injured, with all of them reported to be in stable condition and none having suffered serious injuries.

On being informed of the incident, teams from the Mumbai Fire Brigade, police, the 108 ambulance service, and officials from the L Ward of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reached the spot with emergency teams. Efforts to clear the debris and remove the crane from the railway track and the house are under way on a war footing. Police have begun an investigation into the accident and are also examining whether safety protocols were followed while shifting the JCB machine using the crane.

Railway administration has clarified that the construction work and the crane operation were being carried out under MMRDA's responsibility. An investigation is under way to determine the exact cause of the accident and fix responsibility for the lapse.