Eight injured as crane crashes onto houses during MHADA eviction prep in Mumbai's Kurla
Eight persons were injured after a crane toppled onto houses in Mumbai's Kurla East area in the early hours of Friday (August 21, 2026) morning. The incident occurred at Buntara Bhavan, a Mhada building located behind Galaxy Apartment in Indira Nagar, Kurla (East).
According to officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's L-ward, present at the site, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) was preparing to launch an eviction and demolition operation at the location. A crane was being mounted for the operation when it lost balance and fell onto adjacent houses, causing the injuries.
The injured were promptly rushed to nearby hospitals. The BMC-run Sion Hospital has admitted six of the injured, all of whom are reported to be in stable condition. The other two injured persons are being treated at Kurla Bhabha Hospital, where their condition is also stated to be stable.
Local authorities and civic staff have cordoned off the area to facilitate rescue and safety checks. The exact cause of the crane's collapse is yet to be determined, and an investigation is expected to follow.
Eviction and demolition drives in dense urban pockets like Kurla often involve heavy machinery in confined spaces, raising questions about safety protocols. While no fatalities have been reported, the incident highlights the risks associated with such operations in congested neighbourhoods. Officials have not yet commented on whether the operation will resume or be temporarily suspended pending a review.
The police and disaster management teams have been deployed to the site. Further details are awaited as the situation develops.
