17 Killed in Thane as Girder Launcher for Bridge Construction Collapses

Mumbai: At least 17 people lost their lives and three were injured when a girder launcher machine, used in the construction of a bridge of the Samruddhi Express Highway, collapsed in Thane in the wee hours of Tuesday.

The mishap occurred near Sarlambe village in Thane. Several others are feared trapped beneath the debris.

Among the dead, there were six engineers. The Maharashtra government plans to initiate an inquiry to find out why this accident happened.

Personnel of the NDRF, police, and fire department are engaged in rescue and relief work. The death toll is expected to increase as several are feared to be trapped under the debris.

The machine that collapsed is used to install precast box girders in highway and high-speed rail bridge construction projects.

The Samruddhi Mahamarg is a 701-km-long expressway connecting Mumbai and Nagpur.