29 April,2026 11:51 PM IST | Mumbai | Abhitash Singh
Pic/Special Arrangement
A Mumbai Police constable was killed after a massive piling rig involved in civic construction work overturned near the Vashi Bridge on the busy Sion-Panvel Highway on Tuesday evening, triggering major traffic disruption across key eastern corridors.
The deceased has been identified as Constable Santosh Chauhan, who was on duty in the area when the incident occurred.
According to preliminary information, the heavy piling rig, deployed for ongoing BMC-related infrastructure work, suddenly went out of control and toppled, crushing Chauhan. He was rushed for medical assistance but was declared dead.
The accident led to severe traffic congestion on the Sion-Panvel Highway between Mankhurd and Navi Mumbai in both directions till Wednesday evening. The situation remains grim, with the traffic jam issue yet to be fully resolved.
Motorists continue to remain stranded in long queues between Mankhurd and Navi Mumbai, facing significant delays even hours after the incident.
The Mumbai Police control room confirmed that the disruption was caused due to the crane collapse and subsequent clearance operations.
Authorities said the damaged rig was removed from the spot on Wednesday evening, and traffic is expected to gradually return to normal within a few hours.
Zone DCP Samir Shaikh said the crane has been successfully removed and assured that traffic will flow smoothly soon. However, on-ground conditions indicate that congestion persists across several stretches.
The impact of the congestion spilled over to other major arterial routes, including the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) and the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road, worsening peak-hour traffic conditions across the eastern suburbs.
Officials are now probing the cause of the incident, including the possibility of negligence, mechanical failure, or lapses in safety protocols. Further details are awaited.
