Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Samuel Osborne

Kolkata bridge collapse: At least 14 dead and 150 feared trapped as flyover collapses

At least 14 people have been killed and 150 are feared trapped after a bridge collapsed in north Kolkata, India.

The partially-completed concrete and steel bridge fell on to traffic on a busy road. Cars, trucks and rickshaws can be seen under the debris.

Firefighters and residents were trying to rescue those trapped under the debris with their bare hands.

"The area was very, very crowded. Motorized rickshaws, taxis ... there was a lot of traffic," one witness told NDTV.

Another added: "We heard a loud rumble and then saw a lot of dust in the sky."

Some workers have been pulled from under large chunks of metal and concrete.

“The condition is pathetic. At this moment no one has any clue how many people are trapped,” Raichand Mohta, a police officer at the scene, told reporters.

Troops from the National Disaster Response Force joined rescue efforts in Bara Bazaar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his condolences on Twitter.

The construction of the flyover has been delayed six times, according to the Times of India. It was supposed to have been completed three years ago.

Additional reporting by agencies

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.