Prayagraj, India: A major mishap was narrowly avoided on Monday evening when a massive bridge pillar crashed into the Ganga river during the construction of the country’s second-largest six-lane bridge in Prayagraj.
Crane Topples During Transfer Operation
According to initial reports, engineers were moving a pre-constructed concrete pillar from a container vessel onto a trailer truck for transportation to the construction site. During the process, the crane lifting the heavy structure lost balance and toppled into the Ganga, pulling the pillar and the trailer truck along with it.
Hundreds Witness Incident, Videos Go Viral
The dramatic scene unfolded in front of hundreds of onlookers, many of whom recorded the incident on their mobile phones. Within minutes, videos of the crane and pillar plunging into the river went viral across social media platforms.
Company Launches Probe, No Injuries Reported
Officials from the private firm overseeing the project immediately began assessing the damage and launched an internal investigation. However, they declined to issue any formal statement until the probe concludes.
An employee at the site suggested strong air pressure destabilized the crane mid-lift, leading to the collapse. Fortunately, there were no injuries or fatalities reported in the incident.
How the Six-Lane Bridge Is Being Built
The six-lane bridge project involves constructing massive concrete components separately, loading them onto container vessels, and transporting them via the river. These structures are then transferred to trailer trucks for final installation using high-capacity cranes.
Foundation Stone Laid by Top Leaders
The foundation stone for this ambitious infrastructure project was laid on November 26, 2020, by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Once completed, the bridge will rank among the largest of its kind in India.
