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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Kolkata flyover collapse: several dead and many feared trapped | Kolkata flyover collapse: several dead and many feared trapped |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 14 people have died and 100 are feared to be trapped after a flyover being built in Kolkata collapsed. | |
| Firefighters and residents were trying to rescue those trapped under the wreckage of the metal and cement structure, which came down in a busy commercial district of the Indian city. | Firefighters and residents were trying to rescue those trapped under the wreckage of the metal and cement structure, which came down in a busy commercial district of the Indian city. |
| “Monumental tragedy. Rescue ops on. Many feared dead,” Derek O’Brien, spokesman for the left-wing party that governs the state of West Bengal of which Kolkata is the capital, said in a tweet. | “Monumental tragedy. Rescue ops on. Many feared dead,” Derek O’Brien, spokesman for the left-wing party that governs the state of West Bengal of which Kolkata is the capital, said in a tweet. |
| Huge Chunk Fell Of Vivekananda Flyover, Many Killed: LIVE Updates - https://t.co/gJ5cGulBJU pic.twitter.com/u6QEQ6tyuO | Huge Chunk Fell Of Vivekananda Flyover, Many Killed: LIVE Updates - https://t.co/gJ5cGulBJU pic.twitter.com/u6QEQ6tyuO |
| Television footage from the scene showed a bloodied hand reaching out from under what appeared to be a massive girder. People were trying to hand bottles of water to survivors pinned underneath. | Television footage from the scene showed a bloodied hand reaching out from under what appeared to be a massive girder. People were trying to hand bottles of water to survivors pinned underneath. |
| More than 70 injured were admitted to two hospitals in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal state, hospital officials said. | |
| “The condition is pathetic. At this moment no one has any clue how many people are trapped,” said Raichand Mohta, a police officer at the scene. | “The condition is pathetic. At this moment no one has any clue how many people are trapped,” said Raichand Mohta, a police officer at the scene. |
| The Indian home minister, Rajnath Singh, tweeted his concern and announced that rescue teams would be rushed to the scene. | The Indian home minister, Rajnath Singh, tweeted his concern and announced that rescue teams would be rushed to the scene. |
| Yet there was little sign of a coordinated rescue operation, with access for heavy lifting equipment restricted by the buildings on either side of the flyover and heavy traffic in the area. | Yet there was little sign of a coordinated rescue operation, with access for heavy lifting equipment restricted by the buildings on either side of the flyover and heavy traffic in the area. |
| A senior police officer on the scene said that 15 critically injured people had been rescued. “Most were bleeding profusely. The problem is that nobody is able to drive an ambulance to the spot,” said Akhilesh Chaturvedi. | A senior police officer on the scene said that 15 critically injured people had been rescued. “Most were bleeding profusely. The problem is that nobody is able to drive an ambulance to the spot,” said Akhilesh Chaturvedi. |
| The 1.2 mile flyover has been under construction since 2009 and has missed several deadlines for completion. | The 1.2 mile flyover has been under construction since 2009 and has missed several deadlines for completion. |
| The contract for the overpass was signed in 2008 and it was expected to be completed in two years. Mamta Banerjee, the top elected leader in the state, accused the previous communist government in West Bengal of not adhering to building regulations. | |
| “The concrete had been laid last night at this part of the bridge,” resident Ramesh Kejriwal said. “I am lucky as I was planning to go downstairs to have juice. When I was thinking about it, I saw that the bridge had collapsed.” | “The concrete had been laid last night at this part of the bridge,” resident Ramesh Kejriwal said. “I am lucky as I was planning to go downstairs to have juice. When I was thinking about it, I saw that the bridge had collapsed.” |
| “Every night, hundreds of labourers would build the flyover and they would cook and sleep near the site by day,” said eyewitness Ravindra Kumar Gupta, who together with friends pulled out six bodies. | |
| The disaster could play a role in the West Bengal state election, one of five being held from next month that will give a verdict on Narendra Modi’s nearly two years as prime minister. | The disaster could play a role in the West Bengal state election, one of five being held from next month that will give a verdict on Narendra Modi’s nearly two years as prime minister. |