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Kolkata flyover disaster: building firm staff face charges as death toll rises Kolkata flyover disaster: building firm staff face charges as death toll rises
(about 3 hours later)
Indian police have arrested three employees of the construction firm building a flyover that collapsed in the eastern city of Kolkata, as the death toll rose to 26, a senior officer said on Saturday.Indian police have arrested three employees of the construction firm building a flyover that collapsed in the eastern city of Kolkata, as the death toll rose to 26, a senior officer said on Saturday.
The arrests were made on Friday evening after police sealed the Kolkata office of IVRCL, the contractor behind the ill-fated construction project in West Bengal state.The arrests were made on Friday evening after police sealed the Kolkata office of IVRCL, the contractor behind the ill-fated construction project in West Bengal state.
Five other staff were detained for questioning over the tragedy that unfolded after a 100-metre section of the flyover collapsed on Thursday, crushing pedestrians and vehicles on the street below.Five other staff were detained for questioning over the tragedy that unfolded after a 100-metre section of the flyover collapsed on Thursday, crushing pedestrians and vehicles on the street below.
“Three mid-level officials of the Hyderabad-based construction firm were arrested last night,” Kolkata police joint commissioner Debasish Boral told AFP. “Three mid-level officials of the Hyderabad-based construction firm were arrested last night,” Kolkata police’s joint commissioner, Debasish Boral, said.
“We have also detained five others of the firm, sealed its office in Kolkata and sent a notice to its managing director to join the investigation into the incident,” he said. “We have also detained five others of the firm, sealed its office in Kolkata and sent a notice to its managing director to join the investigation into the incident.”
The three arrested employees are expected to appear in court on Saturday, where a public prosecutor will outline the initial charges against them.The three arrested employees are expected to appear in court on Saturday, where a public prosecutor will outline the initial charges against them.
Although officials have ruled out the possibility of finding any more survivors under the rubble, a rescue operation continued on Saturday at the site where blocks of concrete and twisted girders lay strewn. Officials have ruled out the possibility of finding any more survivors in the rubble, but a rescue operation continued at the site on Saturday.
The death toll rose to 26 after rescuers found the body of a truck driver’s assistant lying crushed under the rubble, Boral said. The death toll rose to 26 after rescuers found the body of a truck driver’s assistant in the rubble, Boral said.
The West Bengal government has ordered an investigation into the state agency responsible for infrastructure and construction, over how the project came to be approved. The West Bengal government has ordered an investigation into the state agency responsible for infrastructure and construction, and how the project came to be approved.
Police have registered a case of culpable homicide against the firm while Derek O’Brien, a state lawmaker, has said the company had been blacklisted in other states and had a “bad reputation”. Police have registered a case of culpable homicide against the firm, while Derek O’Brien, a state legislator, has said the company had been blacklisted in other states and had a bad reputation.
Construction of the two-km-long flyover began in 2009 and was supposed to be completed within 18 months, but suffered a series of hold-ups. Construction of the two-kilometre flyover began in 2009 and was due to be completed within 18 months, but it suffered a series of hold-ups.
IVRCL has denied responsibility for the disaster in the capital of West Bengal state. A company representative infuriated victims on Thursday when he described the disaster as an “act of God”. IVRCL has denied responsibility for the disaster. A company representative infuriated victims on Thursday when he described the disaster as an act of God.
Authorities initially struggled to get cranes and other large machinery through the narrow streets of Burrabazar, one of the oldest and most congested parts of the city, where the flyover collapsed. Authorities initially struggled to get cranes and other machinery through the narrow streets of Burrabazar, one of the oldest and most congested parts of the city, where the flyover collapsed.
On Saturday, Rahul Gandhi, the vice-president of the opposition Congress party, visited the accident site and met injured victims recuperating at a city hospital. On Saturday, Rahul Gandhi, the vice-president of the opposition Congress party, visited the site and met injured victims in hospital.
The disaster is the latest in a string of deadly construction accidents in India, where enforcement of safety rules is weak and substandard materials are often used.The disaster is the latest in a string of deadly construction accidents in India, where enforcement of safety rules is weak and substandard materials are often used.
The disaster comes at a sensitive time for West Bengal’s chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, whose centre-left Trinamool Congress party is seeking re-election. It comes at a sensitive time for West Bengal’s chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, whose centre-left Trinamool Congress party is seeking re-election.
Banerjee has blamed the previous state government under which the flyover project was started, but has herself faced criticism over the beleaguered construction project. Banerjee has blamed the previous state government under which the flyover was started, but has herself faced criticism over the project.
Voting in the West Bengal elections begins on Monday and will be held in five phases lasting a month.Voting in the West Bengal elections begins on Monday and will be held in five phases lasting a month.