An under-construction flyover collapsed in a Kolkata on Thursday, killing at least 22 people and trapping hundreds underneath giant steel frames and concrete slabs.
Around 250 metres of the 2.2 kilometre-long Vivekananda Road flyover crashed onto traffic around 12.30 am near one of Kolkata’s most important business districts, Burrabazar.
“About 70% of the construction work was completed properly. The experts regularly monitored the progress of the project… It is a total act of God. This has never happened before, we are also in shock,” KP Rao of IVRCL Infrastructure, the company that is executing the project.
Kolkata Flyover Collapse: ‘Act of God,’ Says Builder https://t.co/93OYCwa4oi (video)
— NDTV News feed (@ndtvfeed) March 31, 2016
Experts warned that the toll will mount and clearing debris may take several days as cranes to lift heavy concrete slabs hadn’t arrived hours after the accident. Rescuers pulled out 78 people by 5pm.
Prayers with the families of the victims & wishing a speedy recovery for those who injured.
T 1275 – Complete helpline list for #KolkataFlyOver #Kolkatabridgecollapse #Kolkata . #PrayForKolkata @SrBachchan pic.twitter.com/hngyaTimGq
— Amitabh Bachchan FC (@Thekkapoor) March 31, 2016
Reminiscent of dark satire of Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron builder of the #KolkataFlyOver says “it’s an act of God” for a horrific man made tragedy
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) March 31, 2016
Shocked to see the tragedy of #KolkataFlyOver. Condolences & Prayers to families who lost lives in #Kolkata
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) March 31, 2016
Prayers for the injured and dead. So so sad 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 #KolkataFlyOver #tragedy
— Farah Khan (@FarahKhanAli) March 31, 2016
#KolkataFlyOver visited Medical hospital with @naqvimukhtar & was surprised 2 c poor relief efforts.Doctors looked scared
— Sidharth Nath Singh (@sidharthnsingh) March 31, 2016