Thane crane accident: Was workers’ safety compromised?

At least 20 workers were killed on Monday when a 700metrictonnes girder along with a 500600 metric tonnes girder launcher crane fell from a height of 35 metres during the construction of a bridge in the third phase of the Samruddhi Expressway in Shahapur in Thane district There were 28 workers at the site when the accident took place near Khutadi village One of the survivors has registered an FIR against the contractors of two companies involved in the construction alleging the safety of workers was compromisedThe companies are now under investigation by Shahapur police According to NDRF officials the bodies of the deceased were crushed under the heavy metal and concrete debris to such an extent that some were cut into pieces Most of the workers who died were from Uttar Pradesh Bihar Tamil Nadu and West BengalMSRDC statementAccording to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation MSRDC the incident occurred at around 1130 pm on Monday during the construction of a 228 km long viaduct with the use of advanced methods by the contractor Ms Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd which has subcontracted VSL India private limited Singapore a leading companyRelatives and friends of the deceased and the survivors at the Subdistrict Hospital ShahapurldquoOf the total 114 spans 98 spans have been successfully completed through the selflaunching method with each span weighing 700 tonnes However on July 31 2023 at 1130 pm during the prelaunch preparations for the segment launch a crane accident occurred between pillar No 1516 at a height of about 35 metres Twenty eight workers 4 engineers and 7 employees were present during the accident Of them 10 workers 2 engineers and 5 employees lost their lives and 3 suffered serious injuriesTwo injured individuals have been admitted to Jupiter Hospital and one to the government hospital in Shahapurrdquo MSRDC has said in a statement on Tuesday morning By the time of going to press 20 people were declared dead As per the MSRDC 600km of the 701km long Samruddhi highway is completed and the ongoing work includes 101km in Nashik and Thane districtsProbe orderedDeputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a high level probe ldquoSome labourers died in an accident in Shahapur taluka during the construction of a bridge on the Samruddhi highway which is very sad and heartwrenching I pay my heartfelt tribute to them We share in the grief of their families Three workers from this incident are undergoing treatment in hospital I pray to God for their speedy recovery It has been ordered to investigate the incident through expertsrdquo Fadnavis saidSections 304a causing death by negligence 337 causing hurt by an act endangering life or personal safety of others 338 causing grievous hurt by an act endangering life or personal safety of others and 34 common intention of the Indian Penal Code are the charges against the unknown local contractors of Navayuga Engineering Company Limited and local contractors of VSL India Limited They were made based on a complaint by a 33yearold worker Premprakash Sav a resident of Bihar on whose statement the police registered the FIRAccording to Savrsquos statement the girder was launched with the help of a girder launching machine on the pillars by the contractors of Navayuga Engineering Company and VSL Private Limited During the launching process the security of the workers was compromised and due to their negligence the girder fell on the workers resulting in fatalities and injuriesLocals speakWitnesses recounted the horror of the tragic incident The Valse familyrsquos house is located just a few meters from the accident site ldquoWe heard a loud thud when the launcher machine fell to the ground and the workers screaming I immediately called my son and we informed the collectorrsquos office around 12 am Help arrived in the morning around 23am while the locals started providing assistance in whatever capacity they couldrdquo said Vasant Valse ldquoMost of the workers used to sit at my home for lunch and dinner and I would often cook for them since the work was near our house I feel like I have lost my own peoplerdquo said Anusaya Valsersquos wifeAccidents related to the Samruddhi Marg since its inaugurationA total of 855 accidents have taken place on Samruddhi highway from January 1 2023 to July 3 2023 The number of deaths in road accidents is 106 from January 1 2023 till July 3 2023 A total of 12 accidents happened due to loss of control of vehicles in which 24 people died 9 accidents happened due to slipping in which 16 people died there were 6 tyre burst incidents in which 8 people died and 1 accident due to mechanical failure in which two people died There were 9 accidents due to tailgating in which 13 people died 6 accidents due to over speeding in which 9 people died 2 accidents due to rare collisions in which 4 people died 5 accidents due to other reasons in which 5 people died and 1 accident due to fire in which 23 people died700 metrictonnesThe weight of the girder that fell