25 dead so far in Kolkata’s ‘act of God’

Kolkata flyover collapse: Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force comprising about 80 personnel have rushed to the flyover collapse spot. NDRF Director General O P Singh said in Delhi that the teams are being sent from their local base at Rajarhat, near the Kolkata airport. (AP photo)

Kolkata flyover collapse: Locals and rescue workers clear the rubbles of a partially collapsed overpass in Kolkata, Thursday, March 31, 2016. At least dozens have been injured and few were killed when a portion of an overpass under construction collapses in a congested area in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata. (AP Photo)

A under construction flyover collapse in Kolkata claimed more than 15 lives on Thursday. Express photo.31.03.16

Kolkata flyover collapse: A general view of the collapsed flyover in Kolkata, India, March 31, 2016. (Reuters photo)

Kolkata flyover collapse: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday directed the NDRF to engage all its resources for rescue of those trapped under the debris of an under-construction bridge which collapsed in Kolkata. (Source: ANI photo)

Kolkata flyover collapse: People watch as locals and rescue workers clear the rubbles of a partially collapsed overpass in Kolkata, Thursday, March 31, 2016. At least dozens have been injured and few were killed when a portion of an overpass under construction collapses in a congested area in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata.(Source: ANI photo)

Kolkata flyover collapse: The location of the bridge is in a densely populated locality in Bara Bazar. Police, fire brigade and disaster management personnel have rushed to the accident site and started rescue work. Cranes have been pressed to remove the debris. (Source: ANI photo)

Kolkata flyover collapse: Efforts are underway to rescue those trapped under the debris. (Source: ANI photo)

Kolkata flyover collapse: Eyewitness said they heard a loud explosion and then a crashing sound. A cloud of smoke emerged from the collapse. (Source: ANI photo)

Kolkata flyover collapse: Desperate attempts being made to lift up fallen bridge. (Source: ANI photo)

Kolkata flyover collapse: 2 units of NDRF rushed to spot. (Source: ANI photo)

Kolkata flyover collapse: Many cars, trucks and rickshaws were seen under the large chunks of concrete and metal debris. (Source: ANI photo)

Kolkata flyover collapse: The injured were admitted to two hospitals in Kolkata.(Source: ANI photo)

Kolkata flyover collapse: Army reaches to assist in rescue work. (Source: ANI photo)

Kolkata flyover collapse: People are seen standing on the debris of a a flyover which collapsed, in Kolkata, India, in this still image taken from video March 31, 2016. (Reuters photo)

Kolkata flyover collapse: A view shows the flyover which collapsed in Kolkata, India, in this still image taken from video March 31, 2016. REUTERS/ANI via Reuters TV

Kolkata flyover collapse: A view shows the flyover which collapsed in Kolkata, India, in this still image taken from video March 31, 2016. REUTERS/ANI via Reuters TV

The Vivekananda Road flyover is a Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) project which was nearing completion. It is a Rs 164-crore project which the Left front government had initiated in 2007 to facilitate the movement of traffic as well as pedestrians in this busy and clogged stretch of the central business district in Burrabazar-Posta.

The completion of the bridge was expected to ease the congestion of vehicular traffic as well as men moving from north and east Kolkata to Howrah.

It was learnt that right from its inception, local people objected to its design as some stretches of the flyover crossed menacingly close to multi-storied buildings, flanking on both sides of the existing road stretch.

State government sources said there was considerable pressure from the state urban development department to ensure speedy completion of the project.

There were some outstanding issue of land clearance to be given by the Kolkata Port Trust to the state government on the Howrah end of the flyover.

But the issue was reportedly resolved after the intervention of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and work was on full swing on the flyover for its speedy completion. The collapse of the flyover comes just days ahead of the start of the Assembly elections in West Bengal.