“I heard a loud thud and turned around to see the flyover collapsing. I had crossed the spot just a few seconds back,” said a visibly shaken Mahesh Sau, a local youth from the wholesale trading hub of Burrabazar-Posta area in old North Kolkata neighbourhood.
Arguably the most congested part of the city, the area was rocked at mid-noon on Thursday when a portion of the under-construction flyover came crashing down, killing at least 18, including a child.
The portion, over 100 metres in length, collapsed when the busy street below was crammed with traffic. Over 70 injured people have been hospitalised. It is feared that many may still be trapped under the debris.
Several private vehicles, taxis, a bus and a road container have reportedly have gone under the debris.
Delayed project The 2-km-long Vivekananda Road flyover project was kicked off in 2009. It was scheduled for completion in 18 months but missed many deadlines. Project contractor IVRCL Ltd blamed acute congestion and delay in administrative clearances for the delay.
“Shocked & saddened by collapse of under construction flyover in Kolkata. Took stock of the situation & rescue operations,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
The army has been called out for rescue operations and the National Disaster Response Force was pressed into action. Nearly 300 army personnel, a team of engineers and surgeons have been deployed.
Poor accessibility Efforts notwithstanding, rescue operations took over two hours to get under way.
Police had a tough time in clearing the ‘sightseers’ armed with mobile phones that crowded around the spot. Many were taking selfies. Movement of heavy equipment, cranes and ambulances were difficult on the narrow, congested road.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cut short her election campaign in south Bengal to oversee the rescue operations.
“The guilty will not be spared,” she said, adding that a panel of experts from IIT and JU will be formed to look into the matter.
CPI(M) State Secretary and Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra urged the Chief Minister to not go on a witch-hunt and called for immediate focus on rescue.
Impact on polls The collapse triggered a fresh controversy in the poll season. While Banerjee blamed the erstwhile Left Front for clearing the project in 2007, Opposition parties were quick to deflect the blame.
“Heads must roll. Why should the State government shrug off responsibility for the deaths?” said CPI(M) MP and politburo member Mohammed Salim.
West Bengal Pradesh Congress President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury too demanded immediate removal of the State Urban Development Minister and the City Mayor. “We demand a probe,” he said.