Kolkata’s Majerhat bridge collapse Higlights: Five NDRF team rush to spot

A portion of the arterial Majerhat bridge in southern Kolkata collapsed Tuesday, trapping several people and crushing many vehicles, police said.A part of the central section of the structure caved in and as a result a few cars, two-wheelers and a bus that were on that section plunged below. Authorities have still not confirmed how many vehicles or pedestrians might be trapped under the rubble.Below are the highlights:

9:20 pm IST

Five NDRF team rush to spot

Five teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been sent to Kolkata for rescuing operations after a bridge in the West Bengal city collapsed Tuesday, killing one and trapping several people.

While four teams of the NDRF comprising about 180 personnel have already reached the spot, another team comprising about 45 rescuers is on its way, Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted.

8:48 pm IST

19 people injuried: CM Mamata Banerjee

8:20 pm IST

Babul Supriyo questions CM on casualty figures

It’s an extremely saddening incident and even more saddening is that even though it has been confirmed from several places that 4-5 people have died, the chief minister is saying that no casualties have taken place: BJP’s Babul Supriyo on Majerhat bridge collapse, reports ANI

8:00 pm IST

CRPF forces on the spot

7:35 pm IST

Anguished to learn about collapse: Amit Shah

 

7:30 pm IST

20-25 injured people rescued by fire officials

“At least 20-25 people have been rescued from the spot. It is possible that not a lot of people got trapped under the collapsed part of the bridge. But we need to remove the debris to find out what is underneath,” an official working on the accident spot said, reports IANS.

In a televised address, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said : “We are still assessing the gravity of the situation and we cannot talk about the deaths right now.”

7:10 pm IST

7:05 pm IST

Road traffic hit

Traffic movement through Diamond Harbour Road in Taratala area has been suspended following the incident.

Traffic from various parts of South 24 Parganas and Behala area in the city were being diverted from Diamond Park area, said a Kolkata Traffic Police officer.

7:03 pm IST

Train services affected

Train services in Circular Railway and Sealdah-Budge Budge line have been suspended as precautionary measure following the collapse of a portion of the bridge at 4.45 pm, Eastern Railway spokesman R N Mahapatra said.

Train movement through Majherhat had been suspended temporarily as a precautionary measure, he said.

Train services on Budge BudgeSealdah line may be restored after ensuring the safety in train running, he said.

7:02 pm IST

PM Modi says collapse of bridge ‘deeply unfortunate’

7:00 pm IST

Injured being treated at hospital

Seven or eight people were taken to a local hospital after the collapse in the city’s Majerhat neighborhood, West Bengal state urban development ministry official Firhad Hakim told reporters.