The launcher, 100 metres long, was being used to instal precast girders for a 2.2km-long bridge-the tallest and longest on Samruddhi Expressway. Twenty-eight personnel-four engineers, seven staff workers and 17 labourers-were at the site when the accident happened. Police said some were stuck under the concrete girder debris and others under the launcher.
Villagers who live in the vicinity were among the first to hear the machinery collapsing and reached the site to rescue the victims before police and fire brigade teams reached the spot around 2am. NDRF and 33 members of the Thane Disaster Response Force joined operations at 7am. The rescue operation went on till 5.30pm Tuesday, when the last three bodies were found.
CM Eknath Shinde, who visited the spot, described the project as “difficult technical work” in which a 700-ton launcher and a 1,250-ton girder were deployed. Shahapur police have filed an FIR against the contractor for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Public works minister Ravindra Chavan who also visited the spot did not rule out the possibility of an error and said an inquiry by experts would ascertain how the mishap occurred.
CM orders probe into fatal crash at Samruddhi bridge construction site
CM Eknath Shinde has ordered a detailed probe into the fatal crash at a Samruddhi Expressway bridge construction. “We will investigate how the girder fell. The work of installing the girder is done by VSL India, which is a Switzerland-based company. They have technical centres in Singapore and Chennai. The company will also investigate how this incident happened,” he said. “MSRDC officials have been warned to ensure that such incidents do not repeat.”
Work on constructing a 2.2km viaduct of the Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg was in progress at Saralambe village near Shahapur through EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractor Navyuga Engineering Co Ltd. It had appointed VSL India to launch the viaduct segments using automatic launchers. Compensation totalling Rs 17 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased has been declared. It includes Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia by the Centre (from the PMNRF, as announced by the PM) and Rs 5 lakh by the state government. Another Rs 5 lakh will be given by VSL India Ltd who is the sub-contractor carrying out work, and Rs 5 lakh by main contractor Navyuga Engineering company. The injured will be given Rs 50,000 each.
At least two people suffered leg fractures and are undergoing treatment at Jupiter Hospital, Thane. One of the victims, Prem Prakash (33), only suffered minor injuries on his leg. Meanwhile, relatives of the deceased were reaching hospitals to claim bodies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the incident. “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,” he tweeted.
