A portion of the Vivekananda flyover near Ganesh Talkies (Girish Park) in Kolkata collapsed on Thursday afternoon leaving several trapped in the debris. Rescue operation is underway with officials and locals trying rescue people trapped under mounds of rubble.
WATCH: Rescue ops underway for those trapped under debris after under-construction bridge collapses in North Kolkatahttps://t.co/t96fZB3Qpr
Disaster Management Groups, officials of Kolkata Police and Fire and Emergency Services are at the scene of the incident to assist the rescue operation. DMG officials are reportedly using gas cutters to save trapped people.
Rescue ops underway for those stuck under the debris after under-construction bridge collapses in North Kolkata pic.twitter.com/9CD4Kmi1ZU
According to ANI 10 people are dead and eyewitnesses say that there could be about 150 people under the debris.
The flyover was being constructed at Burrabazar—a busy area in central Kolkata near the famous Ganesh Talkies.
“We heard a loud rumble and then saw a lot of smoke,” NDTV quoted a resident from the crowded area.
According to a Bengali TV channel, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has cancelled a rally to visit the site. Meanwhile, the chief secretary and home secretary have already arrived at the spot.
Union Minister Babul Supriyo, one of the two BJP parliamentarians from West Bengal, alleged that the flyover was being built in violation of rules and improper planning.
“It is complete callousness of the state government. How was the flyover planned in a residential area? It was touching the windows of houses. My aunt lives there,” Mr Supriyo told NDTV.
The reason of the collapse is still unclear. Scores of people remain trapped and many of them are feared dead.
