Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 21: Ten people, including a three-month-old infant, were injured after a hydraulic crane being positioned at a demolition site in Kurla tilted and fell early on Friday, damaging railway overhead equipment, nearby slum huts, an MHADA building compound wall and three to four vehicles parked inside the compound, officials said.

The incident took place around 2.40 am at Building No. 1 of Bhandari Metallurgy in Qureshi Nagar. The crane had been brought to the site for demolition work, but operations had not yet commenced, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said.

According to the MMRDA, the crane tilted while it was being positioned and fell towards an adjoining structure. The agency said the ground at the location was soft, which appeared to have affected the crane’s stability.

Central Railway said part of the crane fell on the high-tension overhead wires on the single-line Kurla-Trombay section from the nearby MMRDA work site.

The incident did not affect passenger train services as the section is primarily used for goods traffic. Central Railway said the responsibility for the incident rests with the MMRDA.

Eight injured persons were taken to Sion Hospital. They were identified as Jagrulla Nabi Mohammed Khan, 63; Ahmed Niyaz Ahmed, three months; Atikur Reman, 60; Hakum Sheikh, 36; Numan Khan, 21; Rehman Khan, 19; Suraj Gaur, 10; and Akbar, 40.

Two others, Raju Gaud, 35, and Aarti Gaud, 30, were taken to Kurla Bhabha Hospital.

Officials said nine of the injured were treated in the outpatient departments and discharged.

Jagrulla Nabi Mohammed Khan sustained injuries to his head and leg and remains admitted to Sion Hospital. His condition is said to be stable.

The MMRDA said it immediately mobilised machinery and manpower to remove the fallen crane and secured the site.

The agency said necessary precautionary measures were being taken and medical assistance was being provided to those injured in the incident.