Kolkata bridge collapse: It was being built in a hurry for election, says former minister

Updated: Thursday, March 31, 2016, 18:43 [IST]

Kolkata, March 31: Opposition leaders hit out at the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the collapse of the Vivekananda flyover in Jorasanko area of Kolkata on Thursday (March 31).

Former state minister Ashok Bhattacharjee alleged that the flyover was being constructed in a hurry so that it could be inaugurated ahead of the Assembly elections. Kolkata will go to election later in April. The election is beginning on April 4 (Monday). [Parties indulge in shameless blame game]

Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee faced protest after he visited the spot. Other Opposition leaders like Rupa Ganguly, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and others also visited the area besides Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who cancelled a rally to rush back to Kolkata.

Rahul Sinha, the BJP candidate contesting from Jorasanko constituency, was also present on the occasion.

Local people were helping the police and army personnel in carrying out the rescue operations. The Kolkata Metro authorities had sent 17 cranes to the spot for the rescue work.

Chowdhury, who is the state Congress chief, said the police reached the spot long after the tragedy occurred. Demanding a probe into the incident, he asked how much bribe the urban development minister had taken for the flyover.