One person was killed and 10 others injured when two huge cranes collapsed at Andhra Pradesh's Kakinada Deep Water Port on Saturday, 29 December.
Two of the offshore cranes, used to unload ships, collapsed when port workers were repairing the damage caused to them during cyclone 'Phethai' that hit the Kakinada coast on 17 December.
The deceased has been identified as V Laxman Kumar, 35, a native of West Godavari district. The injured were shifted to a hospital, where the condition of one of the injured is stated to be critical.
Kakinada Port Police Inspector Rajashekar told TNM that two cranes with technical issues following Cyclone Phethai, were being repaired on berth number six. He said, "While machine number 1 was being repaired, a technical issue led to the collapse of the nearby machines on the people who were working under them."
He added, "One person, identified as V Lakshman Kumar, Electrical Engineer and native of Kovvur of West Godavari, died on the spot. Another person called Prasad, a site supervisor, has been shifted to the local hospital and his condition is critical".
At least six workers escaped with minor injuries. A case of accidental death has been registered by the police.
Last week, an oil rig operated by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) had tilted dangerously off the coast of Andhra Pradesh. ONGC’s swift intervention prevented any damage or loss of life. Indian Navy had helped ONGC by airlifting 13 crew members off the semi-submersible drilling platform.
(Published in an arrangement with The News Minute)
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