Flyover collapses in Bhubaneswar; 2 killed, many feared trapped

BHUBANESWAR: One person died and eleven others were injured after a portion of an under-construction railway flyover collapsed in Bomikhal area here on Sunday. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik announced ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for kin of the deceased, identified as Satyabrata Pattnaik, 40.The state government also suspended two engineers of works department for dereliction of duty. Railways said the construction was being made by the state works department. “Though the flyover is being constructed jointly by the railways and state works department, our jurisdiction remained close to the track. The accident site belonged to the state government,” said a railway officer.Police said investigation was in progress to check quality of the construction work and negligence on part of the contractor. “We will bring everyone, involved in the construction work, under our purview of investigation. We will interrogate the contractor and workers. Those found guilty will be arrested,” DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said.Police said the casualty would have been more had it not been a Sunday. “Luckily, the road, which usually remains busy in normal days, was deserted on Sunday,” a police officer said. Prima facie, police said a portion of the bridge collapsed as the nuts and bolts of an iron slab placed nearly 20 ft from the ground loosened. The structure fell on Pattnaik, who was walking with his daughter Sheetal down the bridge. While Pattnaik died on the spot, his daughter is battling with life at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. Ten others, mostly labourers, who were trapped in the debris, were rushed to Capital Hospital . “All are stable and out of danger,” DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said.