Two killed in crane mishap at gangavaram port

VISAKHAPATNAM: Two contract workers died and three more sustained injuries when a load of iron beams fell on them, allegedly after the cables of a crane snapped at the Gangavaram Port in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday early morning. The mishap occurred allegedly due to the negligence of the crane operator.The deceased have been identified as Allu Satish Kumar (49) and Surya Prakash Reddy (59), both residents of Sabbavaram. The injured workers are from Gajuwaka and other areas of the city.

According to sources, a load of iron beams was being transferred to MV Behdad at the port when the mishap took place. Five workers were assigned the task to arrange the beams in order. Police said that while loading the iron beams, the cables of the crane snapped and the load crashed down onto the workers at around 3.30 am. Both Satish and Surya died of severe head injuries on the spot while three others suffered grievous injuries. The injured were shifted to a private hospital and they are said to be out of danger. 

The port management said that the contract labourers were hired by the Stevedore, a private company, for the work. The New Port Police have registered a case against the crane operator under the Section 304 (A) (causing death by negligence) of IPC. The bodies have been shifted to King George Hospital (KGH) for post-mortem. It is learnt that among the three injured, one received severe injuries, while the other two have sustained minor wounds. The families of the deceased staged a protest at the KGH mortuary, demanding adequate compensation.