6 crushed in flyover collapse, Mayawati blames Centre

Lukcnow, Sep 30 (UNI) At least six people were crushed to death and eight others injured after an under construction flyover on the busy Lucknow-Faizabad national highway under Chinhat police station area here collapsed this evening.

Expressing grief over the incident, Chief Minister Mayawati registered a strong protest with the Centre, blaming poor monitoring of the construction work.

''The state government would soon dash-off a letter to the Central government in this regard as the tumble down of a flyover being contructed by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) was a matter of concern,'' Ms Mayawati said after rushing to the spot.

Confirming the deaths, state Director General of Police (DGP) Vikram Singh, who is supervising the rescue operation at the site, however, said five people, including four labourers were killed.

He said heavy crane has been sought to bring out the bodies entangled under the collapsed bridge.

However, unofficial sources put the death toll at 12.

All the injured have been admitted to the Ram Manohar Lohia government hospital here.

One victim died while being treated in the hospital.

According to the eye-witnesses, the under construction flyover being constructed by Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) tumbled down, when some minor construction work was underway.

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) was constructing the flyover to connect the other highways of the state capital through a circular road named as 'Sahid Path'.

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