Two Crane Operators Injured After Crane Catches Fire at Mumbai Port

Two crane operators sustained injuries on Sunday evening after a crane collapsed and caught fire during cargo-handling operations at Mumbai Port.

The incident occurred at around 7:30 p.m. at the BPS location within Mumbai Port, where a Barbados-flagged vessel named Vienna was berthed.

According to officials, the operation involved lifting cargo weighing approximately 140 metric tonnes from the ship. Two cranes operated by Barkat Company were being used in tandem for the task. During the lifting process, a strap attached to the cargo handled by one of the cranes became unbalanced and detached.

The sudden detachment caused the entire 140-tonne load to shift onto the second crane. The abrupt shift caused the second crane to be lifted off the ground, leading its front telescopic boom to strike the vessel.

Officials stated that the force of the impact and the resulting friction caused the crane to catch fire. The Mumbai Port fire brigade rushed to the spot and managed to extinguish the blaze shortly after the accident occurred.

The two injured men were identified as crane operator Ranjit Singh and operator Nishant Singh, both associated with Barkat Crane. Following the collapse, both workers were transported to St. George Hospital in Mumbai for medical treatment.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the mishap. Investigators are examining the precise circumstances that led to the operational failure, specifically how the cargo strap became unbalanced and came off during the lifting process.