KOLKATA, March 31 (APP/AFP): Emergency workers in India battled
Thursday to rescue dozens of people still trapped after a flyover collapsed onto a busy street, killing at least 15 people and injuring over 100 more.
The flyover was under construction when a 100-metre (330-feet) section
collapsed suddenly onto a crowded street in the eastern city of Kolkata around lunchtime, crushing pedestrians, cars and other vehicles under huge concrete slabs and metal.
Authorities said they expected the death toll to rise further, with
an unknown number of people still trapped under the rubble.
“Fifteen people have been declared dead. More than 100 people have
been rescued and are in hospital,” said Anil Shekhawat, a spokesman for the National Disaster Response Force.
“Our five teams with equipment are on the spot, carrying out rescue
operations.”
Specialist rescue teams armed with concrete and metal cutters, drilling
machines, sensors to detect life and sniffer dogs were dispatched to the scene.
But many of those engaged in the rescue appeared to be ordinary
people who were seen trying to pull away concrete slabs with their bare hands.