Kota bridge collapse: Toll mounts to 30, NHAI launches probe

Rescuers today recovered seven bodies from the rubble of an under-construction bridge which collapsed over a river near here, pushing the death toll to 30 even as National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) set up a probe team while attributing human error for the deadly accident.

Seven more bodies were extricated from the debris, IGP (Kota) Rajiv Dasot said adding there was possibility of some more bodies buried under the concrete.

A four-member expert committee has been set up to probe the collapse of the partially-constructed bridge which gave way over river Chambal on Thursday, a top NHAI official told reporters here.

"The collapse is prima facie a case of human negligence with little possibility of any technical fault or the design," Subash Patel, Director in the Technical Board of the NHAI, said.

Virtually giving a clean chit to the two construction companies — Gammon India and Hyundai, he said these would carry on the work as "we express our trust and confidence in their capacity".

The NHAI had announced a compensation of Rs10 lakh for each bereaved family, he said.

Terming the accident as the "worst tragedy" in recent memory, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said he had directed all departments, engaged in construction work, to maintain quality standards.