At least 20 people have been killed and around 100 injured after an under-construction flyover collapsed on to a crowded street in north Kolkata, India.
The incident happened on Thursday afternoon at around 12:30 p.m. in a densely populated area of Girish Park when around 100 meters (330 feet) of the partially built flyover collapsed onto the road below.
“So far 20 people are confirmed dead. The toll is likely to rise as many people are injured,” Javed Ahmed Khan, disaster management minister for the state of West Bengal, told AFP.
Anil Shekhawat, spokesperson for the National Disaster Response Force, said 92 people were injured, AFP reports.
At least 20 killed as flyover collapses in India's Kolkata https://t.co/1PRCaj8fqr pic.twitter.com/znvGmrFU76
— AFP news agency (@AFP) March 31, 2016
“The condition is pathetic. At this moment no one has any clue how many people are trapped,” said police officer, Raichand Mohta.
The flyover has been under construction since 2009 and has missed several deadlines for completion, according to Reuters.
The Indian Army and the National Disaster Response Force have been sent to help with the rescue operation, officials report.
“We have sent two teams who have all kinds of equipment necessary to pull people out from the debris,” OP Singh, National Disaster Response Force, said.
#Kolkata flyover collapse: Eyewitnesses recount horrorhttps://t.co/605778Reei
— Times of India (@timesofindia) March 31, 2016
“Very soon, we will be conducting the rescue operation with the help of state authorities and local police.
In such operations, there are challenges. You have concrete falling over, you have to make way to get inside, you have to take care of the safety of your own personnel. You have to be very sure about partially damaged buildings also. We have to include all these factors,” he added.
Photos (via Anandabazar Patrika) from scene of Kolkata flyover collapse show numerous vehicles crushed under rubble. pic.twitter.com/57i7ZWtKOg
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) March 31, 2016
🔥#Kolkata flyover collapse kills at least 10 with 150 feared trapped#India
📸 pic.twitter.com/r1bnmRKaUJ— Mete SohtaoÄŸlu (@metesohtaoglu) March 31, 2016
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We appeal to local people to cooperate with us. Please keep the roads free so that rescue ops can continue: Mamata Banerjee at #Kolkata site
— AITC (@AITCofficial) March 31, 2016
At least one dead and 150 believed trapped after a partially-built flyover collapsed in the Indian city of Kolkata https://t.co/NTZHhW1N92
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 31, 2016
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