11 killed as crane collapses at Hindustan Shipyard in Vizag

Visakhapatnam: At least 11 persons were reported killed and several others injured when a jetty crane collapsed on Saturday at the Hindustan Shipyard Limited premises.

According to eyewitness accounts, the mishap occurred between 11.30 am and 12 noon when officials were testing the crane. At least 20 persons were working on the spot when the crane broke and fell on its side, crushing many workers.

District authorities rushed to the spot and took stock of the situation.

District Collector V Vinay Chand said: “The 70-tonne capacity jetty crane was procured and commissioned two years ago and its full-fledged trials were initiated this morning. During the trials, officials were testing the dead-weight capacity of the crane when its cabin portion on the top and its base portion separated and the crane collapsed.”

News agency ANI quoted Visakhapatnam District Collector Vinay Chand as saying, “The death toll in the crane collapse incident at Hindustan Shipyard Limited rises to 11.”

#UPDATE: The death toll in the crane collapse incident at Hindustan Shipyard Limited rises to 11: Visakhapatnam District Collector Vinay Chand #AndhraPradesh https://t.co/fDaFLqSPZA

— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2020

While rescue efforts are underway, some workers are believed to be trapped under the collapsed crane since rescuers and bystanders could hear the ringing of mobile phones under the collapsed crane.

Saturday’s incident is the third major mishap in the port city since May this year, when a gas leak in LG Polymers had led to 12 deaths.

By EP Web Desk

(With Inputs From IANS)