The Samruddhi Mahamarg, officially known as the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, is a significant 701-km-long expressway connecting the cities of Mumbai and Nagpur.
This ambitious project traverses through 10 districts in Maharashtra, including Nagpur, Washim, Wardha, Ahmednagar, Buldhana, Aurangabad, Amravati, Jalna, Nashik, and Thane. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation is responsible for constructing the Samruddhi Mahamarg.
17 Workers Killed in Samruddhi Expressway Crane Collapse
A devastating incident occurred during the construction of the third phase of the Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra’s Thane district, resulting in the loss of at least 17 lives.
A girder machine, a specialized mobile gantry crane used in bridge construction, collapsed on the workers, leading to a tragic accident.
The authorities swiftly initiated rescue operations, but at least five individuals are still feared to be trapped in the debris. As the rescue efforts continue, the death toll is anticipated to rise.
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NDRF Deployment for Rescue Operations
Two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to the site in Shahapur tehsil of Thane district to aid in the rescue efforts. The collapsed crane landed on the slab of a bridge, trapping workers beneath it:
#WATCH | Maharashtra: Rescue and search operation underway by NDRF after a girder machine collapsed in Thane’s Shahapur
A total of 15 bodies have been recovered so far and three injured reported: NDRF pic.twitter.com/fCeBkk4OZ0
— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2023
The NDRF teams are working diligently to extricate those trapped, and local agencies, police, and fire brigade personnel are actively involved in the rescue operation.
The girder machine involved in the accident is a special-purpose mobile gantry crane typically used in bridge construction projects. Its primary function is to install precast box girders in highway and high-speed rail bridge construction.
Prime Minister’s Condolences
Upon learning of the tragic mishap, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow and offered condolences to the victims’ families. He assured that all necessary measures are being taken to provide proper assistance to those affected by the incident.
The Prime Minister’s Office announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakhs from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the deceased’s next of kin and Rs. 50,000 for the injured.
The expressway is being built in phases, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase, linking Nagpur to the temple town of Shirdi, covering a distance of 520 km, in December 2022.
The third and final phase is expected to be completed by the end of the current year, as announced by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in May.
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Conclusion
The tragedy that struck during the construction of the Samruddhi Expressway in Thane has left the nation mourning the loss of 17 workers’ lives. As rescue operations continue, the authorities are actively engaged in assisting those affected by the incident.
The Samruddhi Mahamarg, an ambitious infrastructure project, aims to enhance connectivity and economic development in Maharashtra, and the completion of its final phase remains a crucial goal for the state.
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