Bridge collapse in kolcata

At least 17 people are feared dead after a portion of an overpass under construction collapsed in a congested area of the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, police said.

Many people were still trapped under the debris and efforts were underway to rescue those, according to police officials.

“The condition is pathetic. At this moment no one has any clue how many people are trapped,” said Raichand Mohta, a police officer at the scene.

A Reuters news agency witness said paramedics had worked to free people from a minibus taxi that was crushed in the collapse that took place in the Girish Park area of Kolkata. Al Jazeera’s Divya Gopalan, reporting from Delhi, said the accident occured at a “very busy area”.

“Many people are raising questions about how this could have happened.

“The flyover has been under construction for five years and has missed several deadlines for completion,” she said. “So one of the reasons of the collapse could be lack of quality and safety control.”

Building collapses are common in India, where builders use poor enforcement of regulations and often use substandard materials.