IVRCL, under which the construction of Kolkata flyover was going on, claimed that the collapse of it, was due to act of god.
In a horrifying collapse of a flyover in Kolkata, at least 21 people were killed and several injured. Thousands were present in the vicinity when iron beams from the flyover fell over people and vehicles underneath.
Being funded under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, the Vivekananda Road flyover construction got stuck midway after several hurdles.
K P Rao of IVRCL said, “Forty-five per cent of the work was left. One girder missed and the second one fell. It is nothing but God's act. This has never happened before; we are also in shock.”
Flyover construction work was started in 2009 and the deadline was August 2011 and Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) was the implementing agency of it.
CM Mamatha Banerjee, after missing several such deadlines, said that the flyover construction would be completed this year.
But after knowing the collapse news, Mamtha rushed to the spot and said, “Our main focus right now is rescuing those trapped. We appeal to local people to cooperate. Please keep the roads free.”
Banerjee has announced Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the dead, Rs 2 lakh each for those critically injured and Rs 1 lakh each to those with minor injuries.
To perform the rescue operations, the government sought army assistance. Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force, comprising 90 personnel, were engaged in the rescue operations; three more teams of 135 personnel were on their way. Paramilitary forces on election duty also rushed to the spot.
While, just few weeks left for the elections in the locality, the opposition leaders started targeting the government.
Former urban development minister in the communist government, Ashok Bhattacharya, said, “We were not there for the past five years. It is the responsibility of the state government.”
State Congress President, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, said it was a clear case of corruption. Babul Supriyo, Union minister of state for urban development, said, “The state administration clearly did not take any lesson even after the collapsed Ultadanga flyover in Kolkata.”
By Phani Ch
