Deadly Crane Collapse at Gujarat Steel Giant: Winds Blamed in Fatal Factory Mishap

A tragic accident at ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India's (AM/NS India) steel production facility in Surat's Hazira industrial area claimed the life of one worker and injured three others after a tower crane collapsed unexpectedly. The incident, which occurred during morning hours at a construction site for an upcoming coke oven project, has prompted swift investigations by local authorities. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Deep Vakil confirmed that the crane, which was idle at the time, fell on a group of workers, leading to immediate fatalities and injuries. This event underscores the inherent risks in heavy industrial construction, particularly in coastal zones prone to unpredictable weather.

The collapse happened inside the sprawling AM/NS India plant, one of Gujarat's largest steel manufacturing hubs and a joint venture between India's ArcelorMittal and Japan's Nippon Steel, boasting an annual capacity exceeding 6 million tonnes. The site in question is part of an expansion for a new coke oven facility, critical for producing metallurgical coke used in steelmaking, with the project valued at over Rs 10,000 crore and expected to generate thousands of jobs upon completion in 2027.

The victim, an employee of contracting firm ITD Cementation India Limited— a BSE-listed company specializing in marine and industrial infrastructure—died on the spot from severe injuries, while the three injured workers sustained minor trauma and are reported stable in hospital care. Eyewitness accounts described a sudden gust hurling the 50-meter-tall crane structure onto the workforce below, scattering debris across the site.

Preliminary probes by the Hazira police point to powerful winds as the primary culprit, exacerbated by the facility's proximity to the Arabian Sea, where sudden squalls are common during the transitional monsoon-to-winter season. Meteorological data from the Indian Meteorological Department indicated wind speeds gusting up to 60 kmph in the area that morning, well above safe operational thresholds for idle cranes, which require secure anchoring protocols under the Factories Act, 1948.

ACP Vakil noted that the crane was not in active use, suggesting possible lapses in securing mechanisms or routine inspections. A case of accidental death has been registered under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, with forensic teams examining structural integrity and weather logs to rule out mechanical failure or negligence.

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In a statement expressing profound grief, AM/NS India affirmed its commitment to worker safety, revealing that the company has initiated an internal audit of all cranes and lifting equipment across its 3,000-hectare campus. "We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and are providing comprehensive support, including medical aid for the injured and compensation as per policy," the statement read.

ITD Cementation echoed similar sentiments, pledging Rs 20 lakh ex-gratia to the victim's kin and emphasizing compliance with ISO 45001 safety standards. This incident follows a string of crane mishaps in India's industrial belt, including a similar collapse at a Mumbai shipyard in 2024 that injured five, highlighting the need for enhanced wind-resistant designs and real-time monitoring tech like anemometers.

As investigations continue, the tragedy has reignited calls from labor unions like the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) for stricter enforcement of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, in high-risk sectors. With Gujarat contributing 25% of India's steel output, such accidents not only disrupt operations—potentially delaying the coke oven project by weeks—but also erode investor confidence in the state's industrial safety framework. AM/NS India, aiming for a 15 million tonne capacity by 2030, vows to implement corrective measures swiftly, ensuring that this loss serves as a somber lesson in prioritizing human lives amid rapid infrastructural growth.

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