A devastating crane collapse at a highway construction site in Faridabad claimed three lives on Thursday, leaving families shattered. The incident occurred at an NHAI project near Panhera Khurd, part of an 11km elevated road linking Faridabad to Greater Noida and eventually the Noida International Airport.
Victims and their stories
Sakatar Singh (29), a civil engineer from Gurdaspur, Punjab, was the first in his family to secure a steady income through education. He earned around Rs 50,000 per month, supporting his parents and two elder brothers who worked as labourers. His father Gurmeet Singh (65) recalled the agonizing wait: 'We knew something was wrong when his phone remained unanswered till 10.30pm. Then, around 11pm, his colleague told us about the accident.' The family rushed to Faridabad, only to identify his body. 'We toiled for years to educate him. He was our strength,' Singh said.
Manish (30), a daily wage worker from Alwar, Rajasthan, leaves behind three children aged 5, 3, and 9 months. As the eldest of seven siblings, he was the primary breadwinner. His uncle Ghanshyam Singh said the family was initially told of injuries, not death. At the hospital, hope ended. Relatives have not yet informed Manish's parents or wife, fearing devastation.
The third victim, Jaydev Kumar (21), hailed from West Bengal. The lone injured, Manik (25), also from West Bengal, is stable at Sarvodaya Hospital, though his family has requested a transfer to AIIMS, Delhi.
How the accident unfolded
The collapse happened between 1.30pm and 2pm during a thunderstorm. Workers had taken a break due to windy weather. Sakatar and three labourers moved into an iron container used for resting and cooking. A crane then collapsed onto the container. Co-worker Jeet Singh recounted: 'Before I could return, the crane had crushed the container. I froze for seconds. I had a narrow escape — but I had lost a friend.'
Rescuers used mechanical cutters to extract workers from the crushed structure. Of the 22 labourers on site, 4-5 were inside the container. DCP (Ballabhgarh) Prateek Agarwal confirmed that a thunderstorm contributed to the accident. An NHAI official stated, 'Prima facie, there were no safety lapses. Due to strong winds, the crane got damaged and fell on the iron container,' calling it a natural calamity rather than a safety lapse.
The tragedy underscores the risks faced by construction workers across India. Families now grapple with loss, while authorities continue investigations.
