Updated

Kolkata, Mar 31 (PTI): At least 18 people were killed, over 60 others injured and many trapped as portion of an under- construction two km flyover collapsed on a congested road intersection here, crushing people, vehicles and hawkers.

"It is nothing but God's act," claimed Panduranga Rao of the Hyderabad-based IVRCL Construction company engaged in the flyover's construction, drawing all round flak.

Police said that 18 persons have so far died in the incident in Burrabazar area, which houses the city's largest wholesale market, while several others were injured.

The injured were rushed to hospitals in the vicinity.
State administration officials said 62 people have been injured and taken to hospital, while several others were feared trapped under the debris.

A number of vehicles were also crushed under the concrete and steel debris.
CCTV footage showed people, cars, autorickshaws and hawkers coming under the collapsed structure. Some trying to flee the spot were also trapped.

A bloody hand from under a girder gestured for help as people handed over water bottles to survivors pinned underneath.

A blame game erupted with the ruling Trinamool Congress blaming the previous Left Front government, which started construction of the flyover when it was in power, and the Left parties hitting back.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said,"The tender was passed in 2009 by the erstwhile Left Front government and was given to Hyderabad-based IVRCL Construction," adding that the company had not provided the government details of the construction plan despite several reminders.

Four columns of Army personnel (about 300 in number) alongwith NDRF, state disaster management, city police and fire brigade personnel joined in rescue operations.

"Stringent action will be taken against officials of the construction company and others involved," the chief minister, who cut short her election campaign in West Midnapore district and rushed back to the city, said.

State chief secretary Basudeb Banerjee announced compensation of Rs five lakh to the kin of each of the dead, Rs three lakh to those injured seriously and Rs one lakh to those less injured.

"The government will bear all costs for treatment of the injured," he added.

Construction of the 2.2 km-long flyover had started in 2009 during Left Front rule.
Huge cranes and other rescue vehicles were pressed into service to clear the debris and rescue the injured.

A PTI correspondent, who was at the accident site saw a number of severely injured people lying in pools of blood.

A few others were seen trapped under vehicles, concrete and heavy steel girders.
The incident took place at around noon at the busy Rabindra Sarani-K K Tagore Street crossing near Burrabazar, one of the most congested areas in the city.

A number of hawkers operate under the flyover which is also used for parking several vehicles.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in the US on an official visit, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and other leaders expressed shock and sadness over the loss of lives in the flyover collapse and instructed all possible central help in rescue and relief operations.

The state government has opened emergency helplines - numbers 1070, 033-22143526, 033-22535185, 033-22145664 at the state secretariat 'Nabanna' to provide information related to those injured or killed in the mishap.

The Army sent ten ambulances along with its complement of medics to the spot.
A team of engineers from the Army also reached the spot with cranes, water bowsers, gas cutters and specialist equipment to help the civic authorities dismantle the debris.

General Officer in Command of Army's Bengal area, Lt Gen Rajeev Tewary supervised the rescue operations.

Probes into the tragedy has been demanded by the opposition parties.
BJP demanded a CBI inquiry into the collapse."We feel that CBI inquiry should be initiated into the incident, in order to book the culprits. All the culprits, however big they may be, should be arrested. The state should request for a CBI inquiry. This incident is a clear case of rampant corruption regarding the construction of flyovers," Union minister Muqtar Abbas Naqvi said.

The Congress and CPI(M) also demanded high-level probe into the mishap.
CPI(M) Politburo member Mohd Selim said a high-level investigation should be carried out into the incident.

In a similar demand, state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said a probe should be ordered into the entire construction process of the flyover.