A tragic accident at a freight shipping container yard in Khopta, Uran, claimed the life of a 64-year-old watchman when he was crushed under a lifter machine operated by a 24-year-old man. The incident occurred around midnight on Wednesday, when the machine operator, Mohammad Aslam Jaish Mohammad Khan, allegedly failed to notice the watchman’s presence in the dimly lit yard.
The deceased, identified as Eknath Ragho Patil, was on duty at the time of the accident. Khan, originally from Uttar Pradesh, was operating the lifter machine to shift containers when the fatal mishap occurred. According to police reports, Khan stated that he did not see Patil due to poor visibility in the yard.
"The yard was poorly lit, and our investigations suggest that while shifting containers, the accused did not follow necessary safety protocols, which led to the victim being crushed by the machine," said a police officer. The impact of the accident caused severe injuries to Patil’s head, face, and other parts of his body. The tragic incident has raised concerns about safety measures at the freight yard, with authorities calling for stricter oversight. Following the accident, a case has been registered against Khan at the Uran Police Station under Section 106 (death by negligence) and Sections 125(a) and (b) (recklessly endangering human life) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine whether proper safety measures were in place at the yard and whether any negligence contributed to the fatal accident.