Ahmedabad: A 31-year-old migrant worker from Uttar Pradesh was killed on the spot after an electricity pole fell on him during a crane operation near Hirapura village in Sanand GIDC on Tuesday morning. Manoj Kumar Shakya, the victim, had been employed with a contractor at the industrial estate since March 11.The accident occurred at around 10.25am when Shakya, who was reportedly wearing a safety helmet, was guiding the operator of a Hydra crane. Police said that while the crane operator was manoeuvring the machine, the boom moved forward instead of being lowered, snagging an overhead power cable and bringing down the electricity pole. It fell on Shakya’s head, and he died on the spot.He was shifted in the company’s ambulance to a private hospital and later taken to the Civil Hospital for a postmortem. Tensions flared outside the hospital later in the day as the victim’s family members and local residents confronted company representatives over compensation. Police intervened and the situation was defused after talks between the two sides.The postmortem was completed on Wednesday afternoon, after which the body was sent to the victim’s native village for the last rites.Police have registered a case of accidental death and are investigating whether there was negligence in the crane operation or a lapse in safety protocols at the site. Shakya is survived by his wife and two young children.
