Majherhat bridge collapses in Kolkata: Rescue operation continues
Kolkata,Sept 5 (IBNS): More than 12 hours after a portion of the Majherhat bridge in south Kolkata collapsed, the rescue operation is still going on in the site on Wednesday to find out if any person is still trapped under the debris.
At least one person was killed and 20 others were hurt as a portion of the bridge collapsed at around 4:40 pm on Tuesday.
Five teams of NDRF mobilised for search and rescue operation to Mjerhaat, Kolkata, where flyover collapsed. pic.twitter.com/mdvLwqe7ga
— NDRF (@NDRFHQ) September 4, 2018
A nearly 200 feet block of a 40-year-old rail over bridge collapsed on Majherhat canal beside railway tracks.
Several private cars and motorcycles, three app based cabs and one minibus were trapped in the wreckage and several people were hurt in the mishap.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) earlier tweeted: "Five teams of NDRF mobilised for search and rescue operation to Mjerhaat, Kolkata, where flyover collapsed."
Local police, state fire and emergency services officials, Disaster Management Group (DMG) personnel, a unit of NDRF and a team from the Indian Army joined the rescue operation after the collapse of the bridge.
After being rescued, injured persons were rushed to CMRI and SSKM hospitals nearby.
One youth dies in the tragedy:
The youth, who was injured in Majherhat bridge collapse and later died in SSKM hospital, has been identified as Soumen Bag.
He was a resident of Behala Silpara area.
He was returning home after buying books from College Street area of central Kolkata when the bridge collapsed.
Bag was rescued from the wreckage in a critical condition and was rushed to SSKM hospital where the youth died later.
His parents, Pradip Bag and Anita Bag, identified the body of Soumen Bag at the state-run hospital.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced a compensation of 5 lakh rupees to the deceased's family and 50 thousand rupees each to the injured persons.
At least 20 persons, who were hurt in the mishap, are currently undergoing treatment at CMRI and SSKM hospitals.
Eastern Railway clarifies:
Meanwhile, amid the blame game over the collapse of a portion of Kolkata's Majerhat bridge, the Eastern Railway has clarified that it was not carrying out any work at the site where the accident took place on Tuesday.
Issuing a statement, the Eastern Railway said: "It is stated by a section of press and media that Railway's construction work was going on. It is clarified that no railway work was going on at the affected Majerhat bridge."
The railway has also clarified that there is no link between the ongoing construction of the metro projects and the accident.
Girish Park Bridge collapse horror returns to shock Kolkata:
On Mar 31, 2017, the under- construction Vivekananda Flyover collapsed in Kolkata's Girish Park area, killing at least 26 people and leaving many injured.
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