India crane collapse leaves at least 16 dead

World·New

At least 16 workers were killed and several others were feared trapped after a crane collapsed during the construction of a bridge in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, officials said.

Accident occurred in Shahapur area, about 80 kilometres from Mumbai

A massive blue crane is shown downed on the dirt, with several people shown walking near the site, located near an overpass.
Rescue workers search on Tuesday for survivors and the dead after a crane collapsed at the construction of a bridge in Thane district in the western state of Maharashtra, India. (Reuters)

At least 16 workers were killed and several others were feared trapped after a crane collapsed Monday evening during the construction of a bridge in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, officials said.

Television footage showed mangled remains of the crane sprawled on the ground between pillars of the bridge near Shahapur area, about 80 kilometres from state capital Mumbai.

Rescue teams were trying to pull out bodies and at least 16 were reported dead, said Mohsen Shahidi, a top official at the National Disaster Response Force.

“Pained by the tragic mishap in Shahapur, Maharashtra. My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office said in a social media post.

Modi’s office announced relief assistance of 200,000 rupees ($3,230 Cdn) for the families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees ($800 Cdn) for the injured.

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