A portion of the arterial Majerhat bridge in southern Kolkata has collapsed, trapping several people and crushing many vehicles.
As crowds gathered at the spot in congested Alipore locality, where mangled cars were buried under the debris of the bridge, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the first priority is to rescue the injured and those who are trapped. The area has several under-construction buildings nearby. She also said the casualty figure may not be too high. Hospital sources have confirmed at least one death.
The Chief Minister is monitoring the situation from Darjeeling, where she has gone for an official meeting.
An eyewitness said some people in a minibus and private cars were trapped. Fire brigade, police and NDRF personnel are engaged in rescue work in the fading light.
The Majerhat bridge runs over the Majerhat Railway Station and connects the city centre to Behala and other southern suburbs. The incident took place at around 4.45 pm.
Photo: Google Maps
This is the second major bridge collapse in the city since 2016. On March 31, 2016, more than 20 people were killed when the under-construction Vivekananda Flyover collapsed in the city’s Posta area.
5 NDRF teams sent, says Rajnath
“The bridge collapse incident in Kolkata is a extremely tragic. Four NDRF teams have already reached the spot. One more team is on the way. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has tweeted.
The HMO India tweeted this: “HM Shri rajnathsingh spoke to West Bengal Chief Minister Ms MamataOfficial regarding the bridge collapse in Kolkata. She has apprised him of the ground situation. HM assured her of more help from the Centre, if needed.”
‘Maintenance of bridge not under railway jurisdiction’
The Railway Ministry says the maintenance of the collapsed portion of the bridge was not under railway jurisdiction.
The 40-year-old bridge in the crowded Alipore area caved in around 4.45 pm during rush hour over rail tracks.
Maintaining that suspension of train movement on the Majerhat road over bridge was a “precautionary measure”, railways says the collapse has not resulted in any injury to any rail passenger or employee.
The 30711 Baygunge-Duttapukur local via circular railway has been stopped between New Alipore and Majerhat. However, train services on Budge-Budge Ballygunge section may be restored after ensuring the safety in train running, the Ministry says.
It also says that no railway construction work was being carried out in the area.
Not the time for blame game, says CPI(M) leader
CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakravarty says, “This is not the time to get involved in blame game. Who is responsible or who is not. But we are trying to mobilise people — across religion or belief or politics — to engage in the rescue operation. If this would have happened during our time there would have been a massive agitation but we won't engage in that.”
But he adds that bridges are not properly maintained. “There was huge flood in Kerala but no such thing happened. The government only paints these bridges - blue and white - but refuses to conduct proper maintenance activity.”
Mamata orders inquiry headed by Chief Secretary
Ms. Banerjee confirms death of one person in the bridge collapse. “Six construction workers are trapped. Contact could be established with two. One person dead, as of now… what I have been told,” she says.
“A high powered committee, headed by Chief Secretary, will probe the collapse. Negligence will be punished. I will return to Kolkata tomorrow as I can’t return tonight [from Darjeeling]."
She says 19 people have been injured. While Nine are admitted in the neighbouring private CMRI hospital, rest have been moved to the state-run SSKM hospital.
The relief and rescue operation has nearly been completed but for a slab which needs to be sliced, she says while listing the bridges which have undergone repair after the statutory six-month monitoring period.
She says, the entire rescue operation has been videographed and forensic tests will also be conducted.
Matter needs to be inquired into: Governor
After inspecting the site, Governor Kesari Nath Tripathi says that he has been told that the responsibility for maintenance of the bridge rested jointly with the State PWD and Railways. “Matter needs to be inquired into,” he says.
‘At least two trapped under debris’
Fire Brigade officials have confirmed that at least two persons are trapped in the southern section of the collapsed bridge.
BJP demands Mamata govt resignation
Kailash Vijayvargiya, BJP's national secretary in charge of West Bengal, has demanded the resignation of the Mamata government. “State govt can't deny responsibility as it is for the PWD to do risk audit around monsoon. It clearly didn't (take up the audit) and thus should resign. "
WB Governor reaches spot
Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi has reached the spot as rescue operation is under way. Train services between Sealdah station and suburban stations have now been suspended.
A rescue person looks for survivors under Kolkata’s Majerhat bridge, a portion of which collapsed on September 4, 2018.
Rescuers find clothes, mobile phones and utensils from the debris - a clear sign of people residing beneath the bridge.
A rescue personnel look for survivors under Kolkata’s Majerhat bridge, a portion of which collapsed on September 4, 2018.
Modi tweets
“The collapse of a part of a bridge in Kolkata is deeply unfortunate. My thoughts are with the families of the victims. I pray that those who are injured recover at the earliest,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets.
18 persons admitted to hospitals
Our Bureau reports that mild rain and falling light might slow down the rescue operation. Nine persons each have been admitted to SSKM and CMRI hospitals.
A metro rail worker says that although the labour tenement beneath the collapsed portion housed 75 persons, at the time of the accident some five labourers reporting for night duty were there. One has already called for help, he says.
DCP Traffic Kolkata update
As Majherhat Bridge collapsed for
1. North ward journey avail Hastings -> CGR -> Taratala
2. Southward journey DH Road-> Taratala ->CGR Road
Hospital sources confirm one death
Our Kolkata Bureau reports that one person is dead. PTI quotes Health and Familly Walfare Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya as saying that she has heard about the death of five persons in the incident but it was yet to be confirmed. Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim says six persons have been taken to hospital.
Many are looking for family members in the area and two nearby hospitals, Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital and the Calcutta Medical Research Institute .
Nilkanta Das, a carpenter, says his daughter is missing. She went to a coaching centre in New Alipore area, adjacent to the Majherhat bridge. “Her phone is is switched off and we are in a state of panic,” Mr. Das tells The Hindu over phone from the area.
Mamata says casualty may not be too high
Ms. Banerjee says while her initial panic about a very large number of casualty due to the Majherhat bridge collapse may be belied, concerns remain about labourers trapped beneath the collapsed piers. A labour shack was located just below the collapsed portion of the bridge. Most people have already been rescued, she says from Darjeeling where she has gone for an administrative meeting. “We are monitoring the situation from here as there is no way I can rush from this place... We tried even some private arrangements.. but failed.”
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee says that a probe has been ordered into the incident.
Circular Railway services stopped
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 says.
Google Maps image locates Majerhat bridge that connects Kolkata city with Budge Budge municipality.
The collapse of a portion of the bridge over railway tracks occurred in the adjacent areas of Circular Railway line at Majherhat, leading to a signal post on the track being damaged by the debris, Mr. Mahapatra says. Train movement through Majherhat had been suspended temporarily as a precautionary measure, he says adding train services on Budge Budge-Sealdah line may be restored after ensuring the safety in train running.
Thousands of people travelling in the peak evening hours have been inconvenienced owing to the incident.
Many of the rescued persons are serious
While about 25 persons have been sent to a local hospital, many are still feared trapped under the bridge. Many of the rescued persons are in “a serious condition”, an official of the Fire Brigade says.
The collapsed portion of the arterial Majerhat bridge in Kolkata on September 4, 2018. Photo: Special Arrangement
Many workers of a Metro Railway project were staying in a makeshift camp underneath the bridge. As of now it is not clear whether these construction workers have been rescued or trapped under the bridge. At least half a dozen vehicles have been damaged as the bridge came crashing down. Many vehicles “could be trapped”, say local residents.
Local residents said, “The area was shaking” as the bridge came down. The area is cordoned off. Kolkata’s Mayor Sovon Chatterjee and Municipality Firhad Hakim are on the spot.
‘As of now there has been no casualty’
“It was a 40-year-old bridge. As of now there has been no casualty, but search operations are underway, let us wait,” news agency ANI quotes West Bengal Minister Firhad Hakim as saying.
Roads clogged due to diversions
Roads are clogged as several roads have been closed due to the bridge collapse.
Traffic updates from DCP Traffic Kolkata
- Alipore Road is closed to traffic from Judges Court Road
- DH Road is closed to traffic from Ekbalpore Crossing
- DH Road is closed to traffic from CGR Road
- DH Road towards Majherhat Bridge is closed to traffic from NR Avenue
- DH Road towards Taratala is closed to traffic from Diamond Park and Sakher Bazar
Mamata reacts
Reacting from Darjeeling where she has gone for an administrative meeting, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says that the first priority is rescue. Even a single loss of life is unfortunate, she says. Ms. Banerjee has instructed Mayor Sovon Chaterjee and Firhad Hakim, Minister for Municipal Affairs, to reach the spot.
The collapsed portion of the arterial Majerhat bridge in Kolkata on September 4, 2018. Photo: Special Arrangement
A portion of the arterial Majerhat bridge in the southern part of the metropolis has collapsed and some casualties are feared, police say.
The bridge collapsed in Alipore area and crushed some vehicles, they say. Fire brigade, police and NDRF personnel are engaged in rescue work.
The Majerhat bridge connects the Kolkata City to Baj Baj Municipality. According to a senior police official, vehicles are feared trapped under the bridge. The incident happened at around 5 pm.
