Kolkata Flyover Collapse: Panel Formed to Probe the Tragedy
Vivekananda flyover collapsed in Girish Park area in North Kolkata today killing 15.
For live updates read: Kolkata Flyover Collapse: Cops in Hyd to Probe IVRCL, 24 Dead
- Vivekananda flyover collapsed in Girish Park area in North Kolkata, West Bengal.
- 21 dead and over 85 injured in Kolkata flyover collapse.
- NDRF and Army are engaged in the rescue operations.
- CM Mamata Banerjee said, “Rescue is our first priority. Guilty will not be spared”.
- FIR filed by Kolkata Police against the Hyderabad-based construction company IVRCL.
- Vivekananda flyover was under construction since 2009.
Rescue Ops Going On
The late night visuals from Kolkata show the rescue operations are going on. Cranes are used to pull out the debris so that rescuing people become easy.
Kolkata Police Seals City Office of IVRCL
The police have sealed the city office of IVRCL Infrastructure -- the implementing agency of Kolkata’s Vivekananda Road Flyover, which collapsed on Thursday.
Earlier, following instructions from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, police had lodged an FIR against the Hyderabad-based company, whose chief termed the mishap as an “act of God”. (IANS)
21 Dead, 85 Injured
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “12 dead bodies have been handed over to their families and 3 are awaiting final documentation. Six bodies are still unidentified.”
Three more NDRF teams have been sent to the accident spot after the prolonged rescue operation. Now there are ten teams with 400 rescuers on the spot.
Mamata also said disasters like these have no connection with politics.
Army Stops Working After Police Harass Them
Though not confirmed but the Army personnel who were deployed at the spot have supposedly stopped working because of constant harassment by the Kolkata police.
FIR Filed Against Construction Company
- Three FIRs have been registered against the IVRCL infrastructure company including at Jorasanko Police Station.
- Three offices have been raided.
- A six-member probe panel has been formed under West Bengal Chief Secretary.
- IVRCL has been blacklisted twice before.
“Act of God”: Construction Company
The Hyderabad-based company IVRCL is describing this tragedy as “an act of God”.
With elections in West Bengal just days away, politicians from different parties are flocking to the hugely congested Girish Park area.
The blame game has begun as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the tender for this flyover had been given in 2008, during the Left Front’s rule. The work should have been completed in 2010, but the contractors missed eight deadlines.
An unexploded shell was found during cleaning of the sewage. Police have called the Army to diffuse it.
Guilty Will Not Be Spared: Mamata Banerjee
“This is a clear case of corruption, there should be a CBI inquiry into this,” said Union Minister MA Naqvi.
Shocked and Saddened by Collapse: PM Modi
Infrastructure company IVRCL had a contract to build the Vivekananda bridge in Kolkata. Employees of the company have left their office in Hyderabad when the incident happened.
Govt Announces Compensation of Rs 5 Lakh
State government announces compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of each of those dead, and Rs 2 lakh for the injured in the flyover collapse in Kolkata. Army had sent another ambulance with medics and four recovery vehicles (cranes) and seven water bowsers to the affected area.
In such an extraordinary situation, the model code of conduct will not be applicable.
Mamata Banerjee Reaches Accident Site
Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, has reached the spot of accident – Vivekananda flyover near Ganesh Talkies, North Kolkata.
There are three medical teams and two ambulances, surgeons and nursing assistants in each team. Indian Army has also been called in to help.
Army Called In
The Indian Army has been called in for rescue operation near the accident site in North Kolkata.
Four NDRF units – two from Kolkata, two from Haringhata – are also headed for the spot.
MHA Rushes 4 NDRF Units to Kolkata
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has asked the Director General of NDRF to rush teams in Kolkata to the spot to rescue the people trapped under the debris.
Four NDRF units have been rushed to the spot of incident in North Kolkata. Each unit comprises of 40-45 members.
While two teams were stationed in Kolkata, two teams are being called in from Haringhata which is 60-65 km away from the city.
The NDRF teams are equipped with cameras, air lifting bags and cutters.
Mamata Cancels Political Rally
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has cancelled her political rally and is reportedly on her way to the site in North Kolkata where the Vivekananda flyover has collapsed.
BJP Blames Mamata Government
The chief of West Bengal BJP unit, Kailash Vijayvargiya has blamed the Mamata government for the collapse of Vivekananda flyover in North Kolkata.
Rescue Ops
Desperate attempts are being made to lift up fallen under-construction bridge to rescue trapped people in North Kolkata.
Two units of National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) are being rushed near Ganesh Talkies in Girish Park area of North Kolkata where the Vivekananda flyover collapsed.
Several people are reported dead and many others injured after an under-construction flyover in Girish Park area in Kolkata collapsed.
10 people have died, according to news agency ANI while Kolkata Police has put the official death toll at three.
The flyover was constructed by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA).
Rescue operations for the people trapped under the debris underway.
Injured have been sent to the Kolkata Medical college. Several cars and trucks are believed to have been crushed under the flyover.
Currently, there are conflicting reports on the death toll. Local media reports say one person has died so far while news agency ANI pegs the casualty figure at 10. The death toll is expected to rise.
Construction of the flyover has been on for the last five years but was aborted due to local issues. The portion which collapsed was constructed 8-10 months ago.
This is the second such incident after a flyover near the Ultadanga region in the city had collapsed in 2011.
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