Three people, including a site engineer, a surveyor, and a laborer, tragically lost their lives on Tuesday when a crane collapsed at a jetty construction site in Gujarat’s Okha port, located in the Dev Bhumi Dwarka district. The incident occurred during the removal of an excess pile liner at the site, which is part of the construction of a security jetty for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
According to a government official, the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), which oversees maritime activities in the state, had awarded the contract for the jetty’s construction to a joint venture between Surat-based BMS Project and Rock and Reef. The workers were engaged in the removal of excess material when the crane, used for lifting heavy loads, suddenly collapsed, crushing the victims under its weight.
The victims have been identified as 26-year-old site engineer Nishant and 25-year-old surveyor Arvind, both of whom were from Uttar Pradesh, along with laborer Jiten. The incident occurred during Phase-1 of the jetty’s construction, which is intended to enhance security at the port for the Indian Coast Guard.
Nitesh Pandey, Superintendent of Police for Devbhumi Dwarka, confirmed the fatalities and said that investigations into the cause of the crane collapse are underway. The bodies of the deceased were taken to a government hospital in Dwarka for post-mortem examinations.
This tragic incident highlights the dangers faced by construction workers, particularly in high-risk environments such as port and infrastructure projects. Authorities have vowed to investigate the incident thoroughly and ensure accountability.
