3 dead as Lucknow flyover collapses

A 30-metre section of an under-construction flyover, which is part of the Golden Quadrilateral project...

A 30-metre section of an under-construction flyover, which is part of the Golden Quadrilateral project, crashed in Gomtinagar on Tuesday, killing three persons and injuring 11 8212; most of them construction workers 8212; and also exposing the administration8217;s inability to promptly deal with major mishaps in the state capital.

For several hours after the crash, the concrete section could not be lifted as there were no big cranes available, nor were there cutters to break it into smaller parts. All this while, no one knew how many people actually lay buried under the debris.

The incident took place at 5.10 pm when labourers were asked to move a concrete panel on the flyover. No more than 20 hits of hammer on the panel and the 30-metre-long section gave way, bringing down the workers with it. Two students who happened to be passing by were hit by the falling debris. The injured were rushed to hospital where one of them died.

Among the deceased are two brothers of the same family. All the injured labourers are aged between 20 and 26 years of age.

Eight JCBs were arranged from the Lucknow Municipal Corporation, a construction company which is carrying out some work nearby, and the Hindustan Construction Company HCC. But these were of no use. A few hours later five cranes were arranged, which were able to lift the concrete section and two bodies were found under it.

Confirming the deaths, Lucknow District Magistrate Chandra Bhanu said two victims were identified as Ram Singh and Ram Phal, both labourers from Unnao, a small town 60 km from Lucknow. The third victim could not be identified. Of the 11 injured, two were said to be in serious condition.

Chief Minister Mayawati, who visited the spot, blamed the Centre for the incident and asked it to set up a high-level probe. She announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for medical treatment of those who were injured.

Story continues below this ad

The project is being executed by the NHAI and HCC is constructing it. While HCC Project Director Manish did not attend phone calls, NHAI Project Director N K Jain8217;s phone was switched off.

Significantly, the flyover was part of a dream project of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is a member of the Lok Sabha from Lucknow. In 2005, work on the project was stopped following objections from the Mulayam Singh Government. Six month back, the Mayawati Government got the project restarted.