11 killed in Vizag crane crash
Trial run at Hindustan Shipyard turns fatal, crane purchased 2 years ago
Eleven workers were killed at the Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) when a huge rail-mounted crane, weighing 75 tonnes, crashed during a trial run on Saturday. Ten workers died on the spot and another worker died while being shifted to a hospital.
HSL has placed the toll at 10.
According to those who were at the scene, about 20 workers were engaged in the trial run. Six of them were in the top cabin while 10 others were in the operation area.
A video taken at the spot showed one side of the base of the crane snapping and the structure falling over. Some workers managed to run to safety, while a few others received injuries. The 11 workers were crushed under the weight of the crane. The accident occurred at 12.42 pm.
The crane was procured by HSL from a Mumbaibased company two years ago and commissioned one-and-a-half years ago. The task of erection, maintenance and operations were given to three private agencies, Lead Engineers, Green Fields and Squad One.
Collector V. Vinay Chand said that seven of the dead were from the private agencies and four from HSL.
The crane was being operated for full-load trials when the accident occurred. “The government would probe into the incident and action would initiated as per the report of the committee,” the collector added.
Speaking about the accident, Rear Admiral L.V. Sarath Babu, HSL chairman and managing director, told Deccan Chronicle: “It is very unfortunate and the management is on the job to take care of every family of the deceased.”
He said the wreckage of the crane was being cut open, and there was no confirmation of the death of the eleventh person in the accident.
“So far, 10 persons have died in the accident. Once the cutting of the crashed crane is over, there will be clear information about the 11th victim,” Rear Admiral Babu said.
The management is discussing with all the stakeholders to announce compensation for the families of the victims, the Rear Admiral said.
Collector Vinay Chand, Vizag police commissioner R.K. Meena, and senior officials rushed to the spot and oversaw relief and salvage efforts. While inspecting the spot, the collector said two committees would be formed to probe into the accident.
The deceased were identified as R.Venkata Rao (35), Chaitanya (33), Ramu (43), crane operator P.V. Ratnam (40), P. Naga Demudu (35), Satyaraj (28) Sivakumar (30), P. Bhaskar, K. Jagan, and K. Prasad. The body of one more victim is yet to be identified. The bodies have been shifted for the post-mortem examination.
The HSL management not responded to the accident and officials said that a detailed report would be released on the incident. This is said to be the first such mishap in the public sector ship-building company’s 75-year-old history. HSL has reportedly constituted an internal committee, headed by its director (operations).
Anupam Cranes of Mumbai had erected the jetty crane at HSL two years ago, but it was not made operational. The company later backed and HSL engaged Greenfield Company to operationalise the crane.