Kolkata flyover collapse: 'It's an act of god' says builder

Kolkata flyover collapse: 'It's an act of god' says builder

HYDERABAD: "It's nothing but a God's act" was how a senior official of IVRCL reacted after the flyover it was constructing in Kolkata collapsed on Thursday even as a company official denied any quality or technical issue as the cause behind the incident "as of now".

"So far in 27 years we have constructed several number of bridges...it (today's collapse) never happened," K Panduranga Rao, Group Head (HR & Admin) of the Hyderabad-based company told reporters.

Two of IVRCL engineers are also missing from the collapsed site, he said, adding, searches are in progress to find them.

When asked about the reason for the collapse, Director (Operations), A G K Murty, said, "It's not due to any quality issue nor any technical issue, as of now".

Murty said that 70 per cent of work on construction of the flyover had been completed, and today 60th slab was being "done" (when it collapsed).

The two officials said the company would cooperate with government agencies.

"Whatever best possible, we will be doing. All the projects have their own insurance...whatever best possible, we will be doing for the people involved", Murty said.

"We are in deep shock. We at the management are also in shock...we are waiting for what's happened. We are checking," the officials added.

The under-construction flyover collapsed in a busy north Kolkata neighbourhood, killing 21 people and leaving dozens injured and trapped under the debris.

Many of the injured, rescued from under the debris, were sent to different hospitals in the city.

Cutting short her campaigning visit to West Midnapore district, chief minister Mamata Banerjee rushed back to the city, came to the site and directed the speeding up of relief and rescue operations by the police, fire brigades and disaster management personnel.

"This is a very serious incident, law will take its course. Guilty won't be spared, negligence is also a crime," Banerjee said. She also said that the state government's focus is on rescuing those trapped.

The state government announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to kin of those killed in the flyover collapse and Rs 2 lakh for the injured.

Three FIRs have been registered against the construction company.

People were also seen trapped under vehicles, concrete and heavy steel girders. Many hawkers operate under the flyover that is also used for parking vehicles.