Under-construction bridge collapsed in UP; over eighteen feared dead

As many as eighteen people have died and several others injured in the Uttar Pradesh city of Varanasi when an under-construction bridge has collapsed.

It is feared that many people are still trapped in the debris. The rescue operators are presently performing their operations with at most sincerity. It is the timely interference of these operators that has brought down the causality to this extent.

The UP Chief Minister, Yogi Aditynath, has reached the city and visited some of the victims and the relatives of the injured and died. He has also announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs five lakh to the kin of the dead and Rs two lakh to the injured.

Moreover, he has constituted a special investigation committee and asked them to submit a detailed report with necessary technical details within the short time frame of forty eight hours.

It is the Uttar Pradesh State Bridge Corporation which is responsible for the construction, maintenance, renovation and extension of the bridges in the state.

The UP government has suspended several high profile officials including engineers who are responsible for the extension work which has been going on in the collapsed bridge for few months.

The opposition parties including the SP has indirectly warned the ruling party that if the investigation is not done in a proper manner, they would come forward with serious protest.

Vignesh. S. G

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