VARANASI: 18 people were confirmed to have died in Varanasi when two 50-ft concrete beams came crashing down off 40-ft-high pillars of an under-construction flyover in front of Cantonment railway station in Varanasi on Tuesday evening.
The incident occurred post-noon, officials said, adding that rescue teams were rushed to the spot. A team of National Disaster Response Force or NDRF has been rushed to the spot for rescue operations.
16 bodies have been recovered from the site, a spokesperson of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), which sent a team to assist in relief and rescue operations, said.
The state government has announced a sum of Rs 5 lakhs each to the families of the deceased and Rs 2 lakhs each to those injured.Prime minister Narendra Modi condoled the incident.
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu says, “Saddened by loss of lives in a flyover collapse in Varanasi. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved families and prayers for speedy recovery of those injured.”
Late on Tuesday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met the victims receiving treatment at the Kabir Chaura hospital.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had asked the district administration to take all necessary steps for rescue work, a state government spokesperson said.
The flyover was being constructed by a state government agency and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanadh has set up a three–member committee to probe the reasons for the accident.Deputy chief minister Keshav Maurya, who holds the PWD portfolio, has also reached the accident site.
