A massive hydraulic crane collapsed in the densely populated Qureshi Nagar area of Kurla in the early hours of Friday, causing extensive damage to nearby houses, vehicles and railway infrastructure.

Ten people, including a three-month-old child, were injured in the incident. All the injured are reported to be in stable condition.

Fresh aerial visuals from the accident site show the scale of destruction. The crane's massive arm stretched across the residential area, damaging structures and leaving large quantities of rubble scattered around.

Several houses were partially damaged, while vehicles parked inside an MHADA building compound were also affected.

Crane Collapsed During Demolition Work

According to the BMC Disaster Management Cell, the hydraulic crane was being used to lift a poclain machine to the top of a ground-plus-17-storey under-construction building, where demolition work was underway.

During the operation, the crane fell towards the adjoining area. Its arm hit nearby slum huts, the road in Samrat Ashok Nagar, the compound wall of an MHADA building and three to four parked vehicles.

The crane also came into contact with the overhead equipment (OHE) of the Kurla-Trombay railway goods line.

Three-Month-Old Child Among Injured

The collapse injured 10 people, including a three-month-old infant. Eight injured persons were shifted to Sion Hospital, while two were admitted to Kurla Bhabha Hospital. Officials said all the victims were undergoing treatment and were stable.

Soft Ground Suspected Behind Collapse

The MMRDA said the crane had been brought to the location for demolition work and tilted while it was being positioned. The authority said that, prima facie, the soft and muddy ground may have affected the crane's stability.

MMRDA has deployed manpower and machinery to remove the fallen crane and secure the area. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Railway OHE Damaged, Passenger Services Unaffected

The crane also damaged the overhead electrical equipment on the Kurla-Trombay goods railway line. Central Railway teams were deployed to assess and repair the damage.

Despite the incident, regular passenger train services remained unaffected as the damaged stretch is used for goods movement.

The incident has raised fresh concerns over safety precautions during heavy construction and demolition work, particularly in densely populated areas located close to residential structures and railway infrastructure.

The findings of the ongoing investigation are awaited.