Two persons were injured after a crane flipped while lifting heavy metal components of a dismantled stage, built for the Gokhulashtami celebrations, at the Jambori Maidan on Sunday evening. While no serious casualties have been reported, the Worli police has recorded the statements of the injured and other crew members for further inquiries.
According to eyewitnesses, the crane, mounted on a modified truck was lifting “angles” — beams, iron rods and other metal sheets used to erect the stage — organised by the Sankalp Dahi Handi that belongs to minister of state for housing Sachin Ahir. Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan had been invited as a guest to witness the celebrations that took place on Thursday.
“The crane was standing in a pit-like formation on the ground where the soil had loosened due to waterlogging and rainfall. While lifting heavy iron component, the truck’s tyres slipped, causing the massive crane and the vehicle to turn and fall sideways,” said an officer from the Worli police station.
The two injured, identified as Bilal and Kalam, who were standing on the ground, were taken to KEM Hospital. Sources, however, said that the two labourers were not grievously injured. The fire brigade also reached the spot and oversaw the clearing of the debris and re-erecting of the crane.
Sankalp had raised its prize money from `60 lakh last year to approximately `1 crore this year.