RESCUERS have worked through the night in the Girish Park area in Kolkata, capital of Indian State West Bengal, where the bypass was under construction when it collapsed suddenly on Thursday afternoon. At least 23 people were killed and scores were injured, while 120 people were rescued from the rubble. The 2km-long (1.2 mile) flyover started construction in 2009 and missed several deadlines for completion.The collapse of about 100 meters (about 328 feet) of the Vivekananda Overpass buried moving cars and pedestrians in the crowded neighbourhood north of the city’s center. Officials said more than 120 people have been rescued, some of whom are in hospital in a critical condition. SS Guleria of India’s National Disaster Response Force told the Associated Press that the rescue operation was in its “last stage” and that “there is no possibility of finding any person alive”. It is not clear how many people may be still trapped under the debrisThe company in charge of the construction, IVRCL, said it would co-operate with investigators. However one of its senior officials said in a news conference that the collapse had been “an act of god” as the company had a good safety record.The flyover was in one of Kolkata’s most densely populated neighbourhoods, with narrow lanes, and shops and houses built close together, making it difficult to get heavy equipment to the scene. The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, has said the authorities will take “stringent action” against those responsible for the disaster. The contract for the overpass was signed in 2007 and it was expected to be completed in two years. Mamata Banerjee, the top elected leader in the State, accused the previous Communist government in West Bengal of not adhering to building regulations. The West Bengal Government has in the mean time sealed off the Kolkata office of the Company and also arrested top six executives.People are asking why a construction company that had been black-listed by other states was put in charge of the project. The cause of the disaster was not immediately clear, but safety issues such as lack of inspections and the use of substandard materials have plagued construction projects in India. Overpasses have collapsed in the city before. In March 2013, a fully constructed overpass collapsed in eastern Kolkata.Meanwhile there must be an investigation on as to why a black-listed company was awarded the contract – even if by the previous government. A firm which is audacious enough to pass on its responsibility as an act of God must be investigated and punished for its actions. This should serve as a wake up call for us as no one has any idea about the quality of materials used and standard of work in the many flyovers being currently being built in the capital. The government has become a secret government only the contractors know how safe the constructions works are.
