Death toll in Kolkata bridge collapse rises to 23

Record ID: 1385385

  • Title: Death toll in Kolkata bridge collapse rises to 23
  • Date: 1st April 2016
  • Summary: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (APRIL 1, 2016) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI) WIDE OF RESCUE OPERATIONS POLICE PERSONNEL STANDING PART OF THE COLLAPSED BRIDGE RESCUE WORK IN PROGRESS WIDE OF POLICE PERSONNEL STANDING ATOP BRIDGE DEBRIS RESCUE WORK IN PROGRESS A VEHICLE TRAPPED UNDER THE BRIDGE MORE OF THE VEHICLE TRAPPED UNDER THE BRIDGE ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAPPED UNDER THE BRIDGE RESCUE WORKERS STANDING WIDE OF THE COLLAPSED BRIDGE/RESCUE WORKERS STANDING SOLDIER WITH PICKAXE WALKING TOWARDS THE COLLAPSE SITE (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF NATIONAL DISASTER RESPONSE FORCE (NDRF), S.S. GULERIA, SAYING: "As per the reports available here, 23 persons, they are dead so far." COLLAPSED BRIDGE WIDE OF BRIDGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF NATIONAL DISASTER RESPONSE FORCE (NDRF), S.S. GULERIA, SAYING: "There is some debris there that is being removed and it is being ensured that there is no more dead body under the debris. As far as the possibility of live person is concerned, that is no more in this area." MACHINE CLEARING THE DEBRIS MORE OF MACHINE CLEARING THE DEBRIS VEHICLE TRAPPED UNDER THE BRIDGE RESCUE WORKERS STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) RESIDENT DINESH JAIN SAYING: "We are saddened by this incident where many people died in Burrabazar (name of a neighbourhood) area in Kolkata. We have come here to help in any way possible. We can give blood to the ones in need. We also went to the hospital earlier to offer help. We are ready to do anything to help." A RESCUE WORKER DIGGING UNDER THE DEBRIS RESCUE WORKERS DIGGING A WRECKED CAR MORE OF THE WRECKED CAR SOLDERS STANDING AT THE SITE WIDE OF RESCUE WORKERS STANDING / A CRANE LIFTING DEBRIS
  • Embargoed: 15th April 2016 06:40
  • Keywords: Deaths Accidents India West Bengal Kolkata Bridge collapse
  • Location: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA
  • City: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Ground Accidents/Collisions,Disaster/Accidents
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014BJD8P1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
    The death toll in the bridge collapse in the bustling Indian city of Kolkata climbed to 23 on Friday (April 1) as search and recovery operations entered their last phase.
    An under-construction flyover collapsed Thursday (March 31) onto vehicles and street vendors below in the Burrabazar area of the city, killing at least 23 people and injuring dozens.
    A 100-metre (110-yard) section of the flyover snapped at one end and came crashing down in the teeming commercial district near Girish Park.
    "As per the reports available here, 23 persons, they are dead so far," said Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), S.S. Guleria.
    Rescue workers have been searching for survivors since the accident, but the possibility of finding people alive under the debris has diminished.
    "There is some debris there that is being removed and it is being ensured that there is no more dead body under the debris. As far as the possibility of live person is concerned, that is no more in this area," added Guleria.
    Local residents are offering to help in any way they can.
    "We are saddened by this incident where many people died in Burrabazar (name of the neighbourhood) area in Kolkata. We have come here to help in any way possible. We can give blood to the ones in need. We also went to the hospital earlier to offer help. We are ready to do anything to assist," said resident Dinesh Jain.
    A coordinated rescue operation was slow to get underway, with access for heavy lifting gear and ambulances restricted by the buildings on either side of the flyover and heavy traffic.
    Teams of military and NDRF personnel cut through girders to rescue people from under the debris.
    The flyover had been under construction since 2009 and missed several deadlines for completion.
    The disaster could play a role in the upcoming West Bengal elections, one of five being held next month in different states that will give an interim verdict on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nearly two years in power.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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