In a major accident at the Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam, a heavy duty crashed, trapping many under the debris. As many as 11 people have been killed in the accident so far while one person is injured. https://twitter.com/Ashi_IndiaToday/status/1289478816184721413?s=20
Four of the victims were employees of HSL while the rest belonged to a contracting agency, PTI quoted District Collector Vinay Chand as saying.
Rescue and relief operations were launched as few people were suspected to be trapped under the debris. So far, three of the bodies have been recovered and identified, police said.
The mishap occurred when workers were engaged in erecting the crane, Police Commissioner RK Meena said. The massive crane suddenly crumbled and crashed to the ground.
Anguished by the death of 10 workers in a crane accident at the Hindustan Shipyard in #Vishakhapattanam.
My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) August 1, 2020
Vinay Chand said: “A new crane was being commissioned. A trial run was being conducted to bring it into full-scale operation. We’ve also ordered inquiry both from within Hindustan Shipyard and also a high-level committee from the administration.”
Following the incident, “Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy directed Visakhapatnam’s district collector and police commissioner to take immediate action in the matter,” news agency ANI quoted the chief minister’s office as saying.
Dramatic visuals of the crane toppling down have emerged as people at the shipyard stood watching in horror.
DCP Suresh Babu had first confirmed the incident and said the heavy duty crane collapsed at Hindustan Shipyard and 10 people have died so far.
Expressing grief over the death of workers in the crane collapse accident, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said: “Anguished by the death of 10 [toll has now risen to 11] workers in a crane accident at the Hindustan Shipyard in Vishakhapattanam. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
