A Nagpur crane collapse at a Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority construction site in Ganeshpeth killed two workers and injured three others on Friday after a tower crane collided with another crane during a height-raising operation, police said.
The deceased were identified as a crane operator and a labourer. The tower crane was about 100 feet tall when its arm struck a stationary crane, causing the structure to tear away and collapse, Deputy Commissioner of Police Rahul Madane told The Times of India.
The labourer was thrown from the crane and fell to the ground, while the operator fell from a height of about 60 feet. Three other workers were injured in the accident and taken to a private hospital. Doctors said their condition was stable, although detailed medical assessments were awaited.
The incident prompted an emergency response from Ganeshpeth police and the fire department. One worker, identified as Manturam, became trapped in the upper section of the crane. Fire personnel climbed the structure, reached him and brought him down on a stretcher before he was taken to hospital by ambulance.
Police were conducting a panchnama and examining the sequence of events at the site. No offence had been registered when the report was filed. Police sources said the contractor was likely to be named in a first information report for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, though the legal action remained subject to the investigation.
The accident occurred while workers were raising the height of the tower crane, a process commonly known as climbing. This operation involves extending the crane using specialised equipment and requires controlled coordination between the crane, its supporting structure and the work crew. Police were investigating why the crane lost stability and whether the prescribed safety procedure was followed.
The collapse has placed attention on safety arrangements at the MHADA site, including the coordination of multiple cranes operating within the same construction area. The available report did not establish whether any safety violation had occurred or identify the specific equipment failure responsible for the collapse.
The police investigation and site examination are expected to determine the exact cause of the collision, the sequence of the height-raising operation and the responsibilities of the contractor and other parties involved. Further action will depend on the findings recorded during the inquiry.
