The Indian Flyover That Collapsed Killing 14, Injuring 78 With 150 Feared Trapped

Bridge construction in India has come to the spotlight following the collapse of a popular flyover still under construction, killing more than 14 people injuring over 70 with 150 feared trapped in taxis and other vehicles in the Indian city of Kolkata on Thursday, March 31, police sources said.

Witnesses say rescuers are using their bare hands to try to save those caught under the rubble. Television footage shows people passing water bottles through to those who are crying out for help from beneath the debris.

One witness has told the New Delhi Television news channel (NDTV): "We heard a loud rumble and then saw a lot of dust in the sky." Another added: "The area was very, very crowded. Motorised rickshaws, taxis ... there was a lot of traffic.
Large concrete slabs from the construction site fell onto traffic below, reports said. Heavy duty cranes have apparently been brought in to move the wreckage, but attempts have so far been unsuccessful.

Senior police officer Akhilesh Chaturvedi said 15 critically injured people had been rescued. "Most were bleeding profusely. The problem is that nobody is able to drive an ambulance to the spot," he added.
Some witnesses have been critical of the initial response, with one saying there appears to be very little co-ordination on the ground.Army officers and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been called in to help.

An NDRF official said: "Our team is on their way to the site with all required equipment, we are also pressing into service canines which will help find trapped people" Source: dna India, ZeeTV, NDTV/Dibakar Das/Facebook

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