17 workers killed as Samruddhi Expressway crane collapses in Maharashtra’s Thane

At least 17 workers were killed as a girder machine fell on them during construction of the third phase of Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra’s Thane district on Monday late night, police said. The machine is a special-purpose mobile gantry crane used in bridge construction.

Two National Disaster Response Force or NDRF teams are working at the site after the crane fell on the slab of a bridge in Shahapur tehsil of Thane district, news agency ANI reported. At least five are feared to be trapped inside the collapsed structure, the NDRF said.

News agency PTI reported that the machine is a special-purpose mobile gantry crane used in bridge construction. It is used to install precast box girders in highway and high-speed rail bridge construction projects.

Police and fire brigade personnel along with local agencies are engaged in a rescue operation. The death toll is likely to rise, PTI reported citing an official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences to the families of those who killed.

“Pained by the tragic mishap in Shahapur, Maharashtra. My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are injured. NDRF and local administration are working at the site of the mishap and all possible measures are being taken to ensure proper assistance to those affected,” Modi said.

“An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF will be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000,” he added.

What is Samruddhi Mahamarg/Expressway?

The Samruddhi Mahamarg, named Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, is a 701-km-long expressway connecting Mumbai and Nagpur.

It traverses 10 districts, including Nagpur, Washim, Wardha, Ahmednagar, Buldhana, Aurangabad, Amravati, Jalna, Nashik, and Thane. The construction of the Samruddhi Mahamarg is being carried out by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation.

The first phase, connecting Nagpur to the temple town of Shirdi, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2022. It covers a distance of 520 km. Chief minister Eknath Shinde said in May that the third and last phase would be completed by the end of December this year.