Kolkata:
At least 18 people were killed, over 60 others injured and many trapped
as portion of an under- construction two-kilometre flyover collapsed on
a congested road intersection, crushing people, vehicles and hawkers.
“It is nothing but God’s act,” claimed Panduranga Rao of the
Hyderabad-based IVRCL Construction company engaged in the flyover’s
construction, drawing all round flak.
Police said that 18 persons have so far died in the incident in
Burrabazar area, which houses the city’s largest wholesale market, while
several others were injured. The injured were rushed to hospitals in
the vicinity. State administration officials said 62 people have been
injured and taken to hospital, while several others were feared trapped
under the debris.
A number of vehicles were also crushed under the concrete and steel
debris. CCTV footage showed people, cars, autorickshaws and hawkers
coming under the collapsed structure. Some trying to flee the spot were
also trapped.
A bloody hand from under a girder gestured for help as people handed
over water bottles to survivors pinned underneath. A blame game erupted
with the ruling Trinamool Congress blaming the previous Left Front
government, which started construction of the flyover when it was in
power, and the Left parties hitting back.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said,”The tender was passed in 2009 by
the erstwhile Left Front government and was given to Hyderabad-based
IVRCL Construction,” adding that the company had not provided the
government details of the construction plan despite several reminders.
Four columns of Army personnel (about 300 in number) along with NDRF,
state disaster management, city police and fire brigade personnel
joined in rescue operations.
“Stringent action will be taken against officials of the construction
company and others involved,” the chief minister, who cut short her
election campaign in West Midnapore district and rushed back to the
city, said.
State chief secretary Basudeb Banerjee announced compensation of Rs.five lakh to the kin of each of the dead, Rs.three lakh to those injured seriously and Rs.one lakh to those less injured.
“The government will bear all costs for treatment of the injured,” he added.
Construction of the 2.2 kilometre-long flyover had started in 2009
during Left Front rule. Huge cranes and other rescue vehicles were
pressed into service to clear the debris and rescue the injured.
A PTI correspondent, who was at the accident site saw a number
of severely injured people lying in pools of blood. A few others were
seen trapped under vehicles, concrete and heavy steel girders.
The incident took place at around noon at the busy Rabindra
Sarani-K.K. Tagore Street crossing near Burrabazar, one of the most
congested areas in the city. A number of hawkers operate under the
flyover which is also used for parking several vehicles.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in the US on an official visit,
home minister Rajnath Singh and other leaders expressed shock and
sadness over the loss of lives in the flyover collapse and instructed
all possible central help in rescue and relief operations.
The state government has opened emergency helplines - numbers 1070,
033-22143526, 033-22535185, 033-22145664 at the state secretariat ‘Nabanna’ to provide information related to those injured or killed in the mishap.
The Army sent ten ambulances along with its complement of medics to
the spot. A team of engineers from the Army also reached the spot with
cranes, water bowsers, gas cutters and specialist equipment to help the
civic authorities dismantle the debris.
General officer in command of Army’s Bengal area, Lt Gen Rajeev Tewary supervised the rescue operations.
Probes into the tragedy has been demanded by the opposition parties. BJP demanded a CBI inquiry into the collapse.
”We feel that CBI inquiry should be initiated into the incident, in
order to book the culprits. All the culprits, however big they may be,
should be arrested. The state should request for a CBI inquiry. This
incident is a clear case of rampant corruption regarding the
construction of flyovers,” union minister Muqtar Abbas Naqvi said.
The Congress and CPI(M) also demanded high-level probe into the
mishap. CPI(M) Politburo member Mohd Selim said a high-level
investigation should be carried out into the incident. In a similar
demand, state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said a probe should be
ordered into the entire construction process of the flyover
