NEW DELHI: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director General O.P. Singh on Thursday said saving the lives of people trapped under debris of the collapsed bridge in North Kolkata is the top priority of his team.
“I have been told that a100-metre over bridge has collapsed… and our priority is to save all those who have been trapped alive. The most important thing is to evacuate people, who have been trapped inside. We are using victim locating cameras, air-lifting bags and all other equipment that are needed in this kind of operations; meanwhile, more teams are being rushed to Kolkata,” Singh told ANI.
Locals, who were present on the scene, claimed that nearly 150 people are stuck under the collapsed bridge.
“We got to know about the incident, where an under-construction over-bridge collapsed near Ganesh Talkies (Girish Park) in North Kolkata. We immediately contacted the state administration…. we have had conversation with state relief commissioner and we dispatched two NDRF teams, who were already present in Kolkata and they reached and have started their operation,” he added.
As many as 14 people killed and 78 injured have been reported so far, confirmed the Kolkata Police, adding that the death toll could go up.
Rescue operations are underway to recover the people stuck under the debris.