Two migrant labourers lost their lives and three others sustained serious injuries after a crane overturned at a steel products manufacturing unit in the Gagret industrial area of Una district in Himachal Pradesh on Monday morning, police officials said.

The accident occurred when a crane engaged in lifting a heavy load of scrap suddenly toppled. As the machine overturned, the scrap it was carrying fell onto labourers who were working below, leading to chaos and panic at the industrial site.

The injured workers were immediately rushed to the Gagret Civil Hospital for medical treatment. Doctors at the hospital declared two of them brought dead. The deceased were identified as Shambhu Mushahar, a resident of West Champaran district in Bihar, and Munna Kumar, who hailed from Rohtas district in Bihar. Both were migrant workers employed at the unit.

Three other workers — Ravi, Bhag Singh and Baljit Singh — suffered serious injuries in the incident. After being given first aid at the Gagret Civil Hospital, they were referred to the regional hospital in Una for specialised treatment. Their condition is reported to be critical.

Block Medical Officer Pankaj Parashar confirmed that five injured workers were brought to the Gagret Civil Hospital following the accident. “Two workers were declared dead on arrival, while the remaining three were referred to another hospital for advanced medical care,” he said.

Police officials said a case has been registered in connection with the incident and an investigation is currently underway. Preliminary inquiries are focusing on how the crane overturned and whether the accident was caused by a technical malfunction, overloading, or negligence in safety procedures.

“The exact cause of the crane overturning is not yet clear. We are questioning the management and employees of the unit, and examining whether proper safety measures were in place at the time of the accident,” a police officer said. Authorities are also inspecting the crane and other equipment to determine if there were any mechanical faults.

The incident has triggered concern and fear among workers in the industrial area. Several labourers said the accident has highlighted serious questions about workplace safety and compliance with safety norms at industrial units. One worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the mishap has raised doubts over whether adequate safety standards are being followed while handling heavy machinery and hazardous materials.

The tragedy once again brings attention to the safety of migrant labourers working in industrial zones, particularly in high-risk operations involving heavy equipment. Further action is expected once the investigation into the cause of the accident is completed.