At least one person died and several others are feared trapped after a portion of a bridge collapsed in South Kolkata on Tuesday afternoon.
The Majerhat bridge reportedly collapsed around 4:45pm. The area has several under-construction buildings nearby.
While police confirmed the death of one person, fire brigade personnel engaged in the rescue work said 25 injured were pulled out from the rubble.
The injured have been admitted to SSKM and CMRI hospitals, the police said.
State minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said she has heard about the death of five persons in the incident but it was yet to be confirmed.
Minister Firhad Hakim said six people have been admitted to the hospital.
As crowds gathered at the spot in congested Alipore locality, where mangled cars were buried under the debris of the bridge, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the first priority is to rescue the injured and those who are trapped.
"Our team is focused on relief and rescue work. Our priority is relief and rescue. Rest of the investigation will be done later," said Banerjee, who is in Darjeeling.
An eyewitness said some people in a minibus and private cars were trapped.
Fire brigade, police and NDRF personnel are engaged in rescue work.
An Army field hospital detachment has also been sent to the accident site, news agency ANI reported.
Circular Railway services were also affected after the bridge collapse, an Eastern Railway spokesperson said.
EMU local train services were suspended from 4.45 pm owing to the collapse of a portion of the bridge, the official said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident 'unfortunate'.
"The collapse of a part of a bridge in Kolkata is deeply unfortunate. My thoughts are with the families of the victims. I pray that those who are injured recover at the earliest," Modi said in a tweet.
TMC leader Derek O'Brien tweeted, "Watching scenes of Majerhat bridge #Kolkata collapse . Devastating. Rescue teams, disaster management teams, Police CP,fire fighters already reach spot. Locals join. Rescue operations on.Prayers for those affected. Difficult to gauge enormity of tragedy as yet looking at visuals."
On March 31, 2016, a 150 m (490 ft) steel span of the under-construction Vivekananda flyover in the Girish Park neighbourhood of Kolkata, India, collapsed. At least 25 people died and more than 80 were injured in the incident.
(With inputs from agencies)
