Fatal Container Accident Halts Operations At India’s JNPA Terminal, Killing One Worker And Injuring Another

Operations at the Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal (NSFT), a container terminal at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), were suspended after empty containers fell from an anchored vessel during heavy rain and strong winds early on Monday, killing one worker and seriously injuring another.

The accident took place at around 3:30 a.m. at the container berth in Uran taluka. Four of the eight empty containers stacked on the vessel toppled and fell onto two trucks working at the terminal, bringing operations at NSFT to a halt.

According to Nhava Sheva police, one of the trucks was collecting hazardous waste from ships.

The two workers were standing on the truck, removing waste oil from anchored vessels and transferring it into the vehicle, when the containers fell and trapped them beneath one of the containers.

The worker who died was identified as Amit Kumar Kishor Prasad, 19, from Bihar. The injured worker, identified as Naeem, 30, from Ghaziabad, suffered serious injuries, Senior Inspector Suraj Patil of Nhava Sheva police said.

Patil said loading and unloading operations using rail-mounted quay cranes were taking place on other vessels at the terminal. However, there was no cargo activity on the anchored vessel from which the containers fell.

JNPA said it is providing support to those affected and has started a detailed investigation, including a root-cause analysis, to find out what caused the accident.

The port authority added that prescribed operational procedures and safety protocols are being followed across all its terminals.

The accident occurred as monsoon weather continued to affect port operations at Nhava Sheva.

The temporary shutdown of the terminal is likely to keep the focus on container-handling safety and managing operations during adverse weather while the investigation continues.

References: TOI, maritimegateway