Eleven people were killed and several others injured at Hindustan Shipyard Limited in Visakhapatnam on Saturday around noon when a huge crane collapsed while the management was conducting a trial run to test its capacity.

Hindustan Shipyard Limited had brought a new crane from the Mumbai based Anupam crane company as part of the upgradation plan of the capacity of cranes. HSL, with its electrical wing employees and the support of the local contractors, was conducting the full load test of the crane when the mishap took place and the crane collapsed.

State Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, while ordering immediate measures, directed district collector and police commissioner to take necessary relief measures.

City Police commissioner RK Meena, L Sharat Babu, CMD of HSL and local leaders supervised the rescue operations. The Government has ordered a probe into the incident.

District Collector V Vinaychand told media that at the time of the incident 10 people were in the crane cabin. Eleven people were killed in the incident. Two committees were appointed to inquire into the mishap.

P Gana Babu, MLA of Visakha West said while the crane was supplied couple of years ago it was yet to conduct the load test-cum-trial run. 

The family members of the workers, who rushed to the spot, said police prevented them from entering the premises and the officials were not able to give them information about their family members. Those at the site have alleged that the testing was being carried out without adequate safety measures.

According to Commissioner RK Meena the crane was newly erected and was undergoing trial runs when it collapased. Malkapuram police is investigating the incident and relevant cases will be booked after the findings.

Tourism Minister M. Srinivasa Rao said he would take up the issue with Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and see that the families of the deceased get financial compensation. 

Founded by industrialist Walchand Hirachand in 1941, HSL is amongst the oldest shipyards in the country. In 1961, the shipyard was nationalised and renamed Hindustan Shipyard Limited. In 2010, HSL was transferred from the Ministry of Shipping to the Ministry of Defence.

Expressing anguish over the HSL tragedy, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said a departmental enquiry has been instituted. He tweeted, "Extremely anguished by the loss of lives due to an accident at HSL facility  in Vishakhapatnam(AP). My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly.  Departmental Enquiry Committee has been instituted to establish the causes leading to the accident."

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