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| Kolkata flyover collapse: several people dead and many feared trapped | Kolkata flyover collapse: several people dead and many feared trapped |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 21 people have died and dozens are feared to be trapped after a long stretch of a flyover under construction in Kolkata collapsed. | |
| Firefighters and volunteer rescuers have been trying to rescue those trapped under the wreckage of the metal and cement structure, which came down in the Indian city’s busy Burrabazar neighbourhood. | |
| A police official told AP that at least 21 people had died. It was not immediately clear how many people remained missing. | |
| Anil Shekhawat, a spokesman for the National Disaster Response Force, said more than 100 people had been rescued and taken to hospital. “Our five teams with equipment are on the spot, carrying out rescue operations,” Shekhawat said. | |
| Initially, there was little sign of a coordinated operation, with local residents expressing fears that ambulances and rescue teams could not easily reach those trapped under the rubble. Access for cranes and lifting machinery was restricted by heavy traffic and the buildings on either side of the flyover. | |
| “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. |
| Milan Sheikh, an injured builder, told AFP at the scene that he had been working on the structure before it collapsed and had seen bolts come out of the metal girders. | |
| “We were cementing two iron girders for the pillars, but the girders couldn’t take the weight of the cement,” he said. “The bolts started coming out this morning and then the flyover came crashing down.” | |
| The controversial 1.2 mile flyover has been under construction since 2009 and has missed several deadlines for completion. Many of the construction workers are thought to have been living and sleeping on the site. | |
| “We completed nearly 70% of the construction work without any mishap,” said KP Rao, an official at IVRCL Infrastructure company, which was building the overpass. “It was a total act of God,’” his colleague added. | |
| Local TV images showed rescuers pulling people out from underneath chunks of concrete, with one scene showing a bloodied hand reaching out from undera massive girder. People were trying to hand bottles of water to survivors pinned underneath. | |
| The Indian home minister, Rajnath Singh, tweeted his concern and said rescue teams had been rushed to the scene. “Deeply saddened to know that precious lives have been lost in the Kolkata accident. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased,” he wrote. “PM has expressed his condolences to the families of those who died in Kolkata and praying for the lives of those trapped under the debris. | |
| 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 contract for the overpass was signed in 2007 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 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. |