Crane collapse at bullet train construction site in Gujarat, one dead and six injured

New Delhi: A tragic incident occurred at the construction site of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor in Karjan taluka, located about 40 kilometers from Vadodara city, where a launching gantry crane crashed, resulting in one worker’s death and injuries to six others.

The mishap took place on Thursday during the work on the MAHSR C-4 Package of the Mumbai Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor. According to the National High-Speed Railway Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL), the girder launcher had completed 14 kilometers of girder launching and had reached its new launching location near Vadodara when the incident happened.

As the launching gantry was being shifted on top of the girder transporter, a part of the crane got jammed and tilted, causing a disturbance. Unfortunately, one worker who was inspecting the situation got trapped and lost his life. Six other workers sustained minor injuries and were quickly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Upon receiving the distress call, the fire-brigade personnel, local administration, and police officials rushed to the scene to conduct rescue operations and provide immediate assistance.

The NHSRCL, responsible for the high-speed rail project, issued a statement stating, “Amid the ongoing construction activities in the C-4 Package near Vadodara, the incident occurred when the launching gantry faced an issue while self-unloading from the girder transporter. We deeply regret the loss of one worker’s life and extend our sympathies to their family. The injured workers are receiving medical attention.”

Senior officials from the NHSRCL also visited the site to assess the situation and gather more information about the incident.

Following the accident, the local authorities initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the crane collapse. AK Bharwad, the police inspector of Karjan, confirmed that a case of “accidental death” has been filed, and they are diligently examining the circumstances leading to the unfortunate event.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor project is a significant infrastructure undertaking that aims to revolutionize travel between the two major cities.