Crane overturns and catches fire during cargo operations at Mumbai port

A crane overturned and caught fire while workers lifted a 140-metric-ton cargo from the Barbados-flagged vessel Vienna at BPS Port in Mumbai, injuring two operators.

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At around 19:30 hrs on 30/08/2026, at the BPS port in Mumbai Port, the vessel 'Vienna,' flying the Barbados flag, was undergoing cargo unloading operations. A 140-metric-ton cargo was being lifted from the vessel with the assistance of two cranes operated by Barkat Company.

The incident occurred around 7:15 p.m. at Green Gate, beside the Cruise Terminal in Ballard Pier Estate. The BPT control room reported the accident, and fire crews brought the blaze under control by about 8:30 p.m.

Mumbai Police said the operation involved two cranes operated by Barkat Company. A technical failure left the load imbalanced, causing the sling attached to the cargo to come loose. The load then shifted onto the second crane, lifting it off the ground. Its front telescopic boom struck the vessel, and friction caused the crane to catch fire.

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During the operation, the sling attached to the cargo on one of the cranes became imbalanced and came loose, causing the entire load to shift onto the second crane.

The injured operators were identified as Ranjit and Nishant. They were taken to St. George Hospital, and updates on their condition were awaited. BPT fire station personnel responded to the scene, while police began an investigation into the circumstances of the accident and the subsequent fire.

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An investigation into the incident is currently underway.