A portion of a partially built Vivekananda flyover collapsed on Thursday afternoon leaving several trapped. Rescue operations are underway and officials are trying to pull out people trapped under mounds of rubble. Disaster Management Groups, Army, officials of Kolkata Police and Fire and Emergency Services are at the stop. DMG officials are using gas cutters to save trapped people. Rescue operations are underaway near Ganesh Talkies (Girish Park) in Kolkata. Eye-witnesses say that there could be around 150 people under the debris. The flyover was the object of some controversy, with lots of residents complaining about it, particularly due to the congestion it caused.
Here is all you need to know about the flyover:
* The long-delayed 2.5km flyover was under construction as part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission
* The flyover was expected to ease congestion in the Burrabazar area – the location of one of the largest wholesale markets in Asia – up to the Howrah station, the gateway to the city.
* The project’s foundation was laid in 2008 and work on the Rs 164-crore project began on February 24, 2009.
* It was scheduled to be completed in 2012 but land acquisition issues delayed its completion.
* The implementing agency also ran into financial trouble.
* 17 people have lost their lives while 70 people have been rescued from under the debris so far.
The blame games have already started, the construction company IVRCL has said that “It is an act of God”. While CM Mamata Banerjee has said that guilty will be punished severely, she did not forget to pass the blame to CPI(M) because the tender was passed during their government.
Here are important Tweets regarding the flyover collapse incident :-
At 2:30 p.m,
Firefighters and residents were trying with their bare hands to rescue those trapped under the wreckage of the metal-and-cement structure that came down near Girish Park in a teeming commercial district. Television footage from the scene showed a bloody hand reaching out from under what appeared to be a massive girder. People were trying to hand bottles of water to survivors pinned underneath.
“The condition is pathetic. At this moment no one has any clue how many people are trapped,” said Raichand Mohta, a police officer at the scene. A Reuters witness said paramedics had worked to free people from a minibus taxi that was crushed in the collapse.
There was little sign of a coordinated rescue operation, with access for heavy lifting equipment restricted by the proximity of buildings on either side of the flyover and heavy traffic.
The flyover has been under construction since 2009 and has missed several deadlines for completion.
Here are the helpline numbers:
1070, 033-22143526, 033-22535185, 033-22145664
The State government has set up a control room to help the public. Here are the numbers: 1070, 033-22143526/033-22535185/033-22145664. Fax:033-22141378.
Now, who will take the responsibility of this horrific man-made incident? Will there be a value for life? Or will everyone go scot free? Tell us your opinions in the comment section below.
featured image: DNA
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