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Multiple casualties feared as under construction bridge collapses in Kolkata

Written by : Inputs PTI

At least 24 people died and many were trapped when a portion of an under-construction flyover collapsed on Thursday on a busy Vivekananda Road area of  Girish Park, Kolkata.

Rescue operations by different agencies including the Army, NDRF continued overnight with cranes and heavyduty equipments to remove the debri and rescue those trapped inside.

On Friday morning, NDRF personnel said they don't expect any more survivors.Police sources said that eight persons were killed in the incident, while several others were injured. The death toll could go up, they said.

Several injured persons were rescued from under the debris and were being sent to different hospitals in the vicinity.

"Two persons were brought dead and two others were in serious condition," Kolkata Medical College and Hospital superintendent Sikha Banerjee said.

"More injured persons are still being brought in to the hospital," Banerjee said.

Cutting short her visit to West Midnapore district on Thursday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was campaigning there, rushed back to the city and visited the site and directed the authorities to speed up the relief and rescue operations carried out by police, fire brigade and disaster management personnel.

Meanwhile, IVRCL, the company contracted to build the flyover by the KMDA said that the company was not responsible for the mishap but was an act of God.  

Several passenger vehicles, including a bus, were trapped under the debris, as operations were on to clear the rubble and bring out those trapped under.

Huge cranes and other rescue vehicles were pressed into service to clear the debris and bring out the injured.

A PTI correspondent who was at the accident site, saw a number of severely injured persons lying in a pool of blood.

At least a few persons 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, the trading hub and 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.

NDRF personnel were also rushed to the site to assist in the rescue operations.

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