Kolkata flyover collapse an act of God', says builder

Kolkata: At least 18 people were killed and several injured on Thursday, after an under-construction bridge collapsed in Burrabazar, a bustling crowded market area in north Kolkata. Police, fire brigade and disaster management personnel have rushed to the accident site and rescue operations are underway to save those trapped in the debris. There is no confirmation on the number of people who are feared trapped.

A portion of the ill-fated Vivekananda Setu which has been under construction since 2009 came  crashing down at around 12.35 pm. " I had stepped out of my home to take a glass of  juice from the corner shop. When I heard the loud explosion. First I thought it was an  earthquake and then before my eyes the flyover collapsed," a local resident Prem Prakash Tiwari said.

Read: Kolkata flyover collapse: Office of Hyderbad-based construction firm sealed

The West Bengal government ordered a high-level probe into the tragedy that triggered a blame game with the opposition accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of callousness.

Mamata Banerjee who visited the site said over 70 were injured in the mishap and 5000 people were carrying out rescue operations.  Banerjee who was touring Junglemahal as part of TMC's election campaign, cancelled her public rallies in West Midnapore and rushed back to the city in her helicopter to review the situation.

Read: Video captures terrifying moment the Kolkata flyover collapsed

3 FIRs have been registered against IVRCL infrastructure company, which is responsible for the construction of the building. However, the company in an earlier statement had tried to shrug responsibility by calling the accident an ‘Act of God'.

“45% work was left, one girder missed & second one fell. It is nothing but God's act,” said KP Rao of the IVRCL Infrastructure company. He said that such an incident had never happened before and they were shocked by the sudden collapse.

Rescue operations are underway in full swing at the accident site. (Photo: PTI)

Read: Kolkata flyover collapse: Centre directs NDRF to engage all resources

Another eyewitness said the flyover collapsed over a mini bus with passengers onboard, an Innova, two taxis, two matador vans and some autos were crushed under the debris.

For nearly two hours, the police, fire brigade and disaster management personnel struggled to rescue people trapped under thousands of tonnes of concrete and steel.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sadness over the accident and and instructed all possible Central help in rescue and relief operations.

"Saddened by the sudden collapse of under construction flyover in Kolkata, have taken stock of the situation and rescue operations," Modi, who is in the US on an official visit, tweeted.

Sources said the Prime Minister is in touch with officials in Delhi and has instructed all possible assistance to be extended by Army and NDRF in rescue and relief operations.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted his concern and announced that rescue teams would be rushed to the scene.

Hundreds of local resident converged on the scene of disaster and started to extend a helping hand to the victims and the local administration. "There were some heart-wrenching scenes like the one where a person totally trapped and invisible from outside managed to push out his bleeding arm to seek help. Two local  people offered him a bottle of water," an eyewitness recounted.

Read: Flyover collapse: Opposition demands CBI probe into the incident

Earlier chief secretary Basudeb Banerjee, home secretary Moloy De and other senior bureacrats and police personnel had rushed to the spot to supervise the  rescue and relief operation.

Read: Kolkata flyover collapse: It's an act of God, says construction company

As soon as Ms Banerjee reached the accident site, she took hold of a hand-held mike and appealed to the local people for cooperation. " This is a huge tragedy and I want all your help and cooperation," she said. At her instruction, the chief secretary announced a compensation of Rs five lakh for the families of bereaved and Rs three lakh for seriously injured.

 

Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force comprising about 80 personnel were rushed to the flyover collapse spot.

NDRF Director General O P Singh said in Delhi that the teams are being sent from their local base at Rajarhat, near the Kolkata airport.

The accident spot is about 13 kms from the NDRF base. "The teams are well equipped to immediately conduct rescue operations. They will do that exactly as soon as they reach," Singh said.