18 killed in flyover collapse in Varanasi; several feared trapped

Shahira Naim
Tribune News Service
Varanasi, May 15

A portion of an under-construction flyover collapsed near Cantonment railway station on Tuesday, killing at least 18 people and trapping many more under its debris. Rescue teams pulled three people alive from the under debris.

Seven injured people were also rescued among them two are seriously injured. 

Reports said two pillars of the Chaukaghat-Lehertara flyover collapsed during peak traffic hours in the holy city. 

The toll could rise as eyewitnesses claimed at least a dozen vehicles and a mini-bus with around 32 passengers were crushed.

The NDRF team reached the accident site within an hour and the army has also joined them in the rescue operation.

Varanasi is the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Uttar Pradesh Bridge Corporation Limited was given the flyover project.

Deputy General of Police OP Singh said: “Several people are feared trapped under the collapsed under-construction flyover. Rescue operations are underway and the police are regulating traffic”.

Committee

Chief Minister Adityanath’s government instituted a three-member panel headed by the Commissioner Agriculture Production Raj Pratap Singh to inquire into the incident. The panel must submit a detailed report within 48 hours.

Briefing the press, UP’s Health Minister Siddhartha Nath Singh said Adityanath had extended all possible help to the local administration.

Adityanath sent his deputy, Keshav Prasad Maurya, and minister Neelkanth Tiwari to Varanasi to supervise the rescue operations.

He also announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the dead and Rs 2 lakh for the injured.

Speaking to The Tribune from the accident site, District Magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Misra said that a medical team and dozens of ambulances were at the accident site.

The incident has brought to light poor safety standards of the project: the space under the unfinished flyover was used as a makeshift inter-city bus station, the road was not closed for regular traffic, and labourers worked on the site without appropriate safety equipment.  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the MP from Varanasi, said he had spoken to Adityanath about the incident.

“Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to the collapse of an under-construction flyover in Varanasi. I pray that the injured recover soon. Spoke to officials and asked them to ensure all possible support to those affected,” he said in a tweet.

Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to the collapse of an under-construction flyover in Varanasi. I pray that the injured recover soon. Spoke to officials and asked them to ensure all possible support to those affected.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 15, 2018

“I spoke to UP CM Yogi Adityanath Ji regarding the situation due to the collapse of an under-construction flyover in Varanasi. The UP Government is monitoring the situation very closely and is working on the ground to assist the affected.” — With agencies