After Majerhat bridge collapse, Eastern Railways stop services on Budge Budge-Sealdah route

Moments after Majerhat flyover collapse, Eastern Railways stopped the services on Budge Budge-Sealdah route on Tuesday. The Circular Railway services were worst-affected after the collapse of a section of a bridge at Majerhat in south Kolkata on Tuesday, an Eastern Railway spokesperson said.

EMU local train services were suspended from 4.45 pm owing to the collapse of a portion of the bridge, the official said.

State minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said she has heard about the death of five persons in the incident but it was yet to be confirmed.

Another minister Firhad Hakim said six persons were taken to hospital.

As crowds gathered at the spot in congested Alipore locality, where mangled cars were buried under the debris of the bridge, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the first priority is to rescue the injured and those who are trapped.

The area has several under-construction buildings nearby. An eyewitness said some people in a minibus and private cars were trapped.

Fire brigade, Kolkata Police and NDRF personnel are engaged in rescue work in the fading light. 

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

People had said that concrete was laid overnight which could have possibly increased the weight over the steel beams to levels beyond their bearing capacities.

The National Disaster Response Force had to use gas-cutters, sniffer dogs and cameras while cranes from every construction site in and around the city were brought in. The long steel beams were then lifted to pull out the dead and the injured.

Around 80 people were rescued and admitted to nearby hospitals, chiefly Marwari Relief Society and Medical College.