MUMBAI, May 3 -- Five days after a 200-tonne crane toppled on the Sion-Panvel Highway in Mankhurd, killing a 48-year-old police constable, another fatal construction accident has claimed two lives, this time at the under-construction Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road (DBLR) in Bhayandar West, intensifying concerns over safety lapses at large-scale infrastructure projects across Mumbai. Two labourers were killed on Saturday afternoon when a crane collapsed at the project site near Bhayander West railway station. According to the police, the contractor was in the process of setting up a casting yard for the link road project when the accident occurred around 12.30pm. The platform of a gantry crane at the site suddenly gave way, causing the heavy structure to collapse onto workers below. The victims, Raghunath Das, 38, and Kana Singh, 45, sustained severe injuries after being crushed under the crane. They were rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared both brought dead. Civic officials said the collapse involved a structural failure at height. Abhijit Bangar, additional municipal commissioner of BMC (Projects), said the platform next to the gantry crane collapsed from a height of 30 feet. "Two labourers were crushed as a result of the collapse and died due to the injuries. We have stopped the work as a precautionary measure. We will have a third-party safety audit and then restart the work after safety precautions are put in place. We will also impose a penalty on the contractor," Bangar said. Police have initiated a probe into the incident. Senior police inspector Jitendra Kamble of Bhayandar police station said an accidental death report has been registered and investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the collapse and whether negligence was involved. A BMC spokesperson said a thorough and impartial inquiry will be conducted into the incident. If any lapses in worker safety are found, strict action will be taken against the contractor, and it will be verified whether standard operating procedures were followed. An expert team from Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) has been appointed to carry out a detailed probe and submit a fact-based report, based on which penal action will be initiated. The civic body said worker safety is a top priority and reiterated a zero-tolerance policy towards negligence. It has decided to conduct detailed third-party safety inspections of cranes, gantries and other machinery, and to strengthen audits across project sites. The 5-km elevated corridor will connect Dahisar West to Bhayander West, traversing Vasai creek. Of the total stretch, 1.5 km falls under the BMC's jurisdiction, while 3.5 km lies with the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation. Engineering major Larson & Toubro secured the contract in July 2024, quoting Rs.3,304 crore for the project. Despite repeated attempts, Larson & Toubro refused to comment....