Kolkata Bridge Collapse: Main focus on rescue work right now, says Mamata Banerjee

Sep 4 (AZINS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that entire administration is focusing on the rescue and relief operations after the Majerhat Bridge collapsed during peak hours in south Kolkata on Tuesday.

Banerjee, who is in Darjeeling right now, has cut short her visit and is trying to return to the state capital. ‘We want to go back as soon as possible. There are no flights in the evening, we are unable to do so,’ Banrejee said in her statement from Darjeeling.

‘Police is investigating the matter, a detailed investigation will be done,’ Banrejee added.

Senior Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien took to Twitter to inform about the rescue operations. ‘Cranes already put into action. Fire fighters using ladders already being used. Disaster management teams at work. Watching scenes of Majerhat bridge #Kolkata collapse . Devastating. Rescue teams, disaster management teams, Police CP,fire fighters already reach spot. Locals join. Rescue operations on.Prayers for those affected. Difficult to gauge enormity of tragedy as yet looking at visuals,’ the leader said on micro-blogging site.

The Majerhat Bridge collapse brings back the memory of 2016 disaster when an under construction Vivekananda Flyover caved in. The collapse claimed 25 lives.

The two-km-long Vivekananda Flyover, six years in the making, being built by cash-strapped IVRCL, had collapsed over Chitpur-MG Road crossing at around 12.30pm on April 1st over pedestrians, slow-moving cars, taxis, trucks and auto-rickshaws, instantly killing many, crushing vehicles to mangled pulp and trapping many between long steel beams.