17 killed, 48 feared trapped as cops file case against 14.
The police on Friday arrested two senior officials of construction giants Hyundai India and Gammon India Ltd after the collapse of a portion of a bridge over the River Chambal in Kota district on Thursday evening.
Nine people have been confirmed dead, though news agency reports put the toll at 17.
Around 48 people are feared trapped under the debris.
The Kota police have registered a case against 14 officials from both companies and the project director of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for culpable homicide and attempt to commit culpable homicide.
“There is gross criminal negligence behind this tragedy. The government will ensure that the guilty get maximum punishment,” Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said after inspecting the mishap site.
According to the Kunhadi police, who registered the FIR, Ryu, a Korean national and chief project manager of Hyundai, has been arrested along with R Chattopadhyay, project manager, Gammon India. The Korean embassy will be notified about the development, and the two officials will be produced before court on Saturday.
The police have also pressed charges against eight officials of Hyundai and four officials from Gammon India, along with two top NHAI officials under the Indian Penal Code sections 304 and 308. They invite separate sentences of life imprisonment and three-year prison terms if convicted.
Rescue operations are under way at the mishap site. Naval divers arrived in Kota after a portion of the bridge collapsed and cranes and wire-cutters have been deployed to clear the debris and help rescue those trapped. Army and emergency personnel are also involved in the rescue operations.
“It is a complex operation as tonnes of debris have fallen on land and water. It may take a few days to clear,” Kota divisional commissioner PL Agarwal said.
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