Image

Kolkata flyover disaster: Hanging portion is the final challenge for rescue men

by IBNS 04 Apr 2016, 07:03 am

Kolkata, Apr 4 (IBNS): Three days after a portion of the Vivekananda Flyover collapsed in Kolkata which left at least 26 people killed, major parts of the debris have been cleared by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Army, Disaster Management Group (DMG) and, Fire and Emergency Service personnel.

The main target of the rescue teams is to clear the remaining part of the structure which is hanging from the broken pillars.
 
Changing their strategy, rescue operators are slowly removing the the semi-collapsed ramps of the flyover which are hanging dangerously. 
 
What was seen on Sunday at the crash area, NDRF men are using huge concrete blocks to set up a support system for the flyover here.
 
"The two trucks, which have been trapped under the wreckage since Thursday are acting like two pillars. If we try to remove those then the hanging part could collapse and damage buildings nearby. That's why, we are setting up these concrete blocks which will hold the hanging ramps," one NDRF team commander told IBNS. 
 
"After completing this process, we will try to remove the trucks and take down the hanging bridge in a controlled way. It could take one week or more to clear the area," he further said.
 
The fatal accident, which took part on Thursday, killed at least 26 people and left many others injured. Four officials of construction company IVRCL have been arrested so far for negligence and they are in police custody.
 
Reporting by Deepayan Sinha,