West Bengal: NHAI flyover collapse raises concerns over structural flaws

Political blame game continues over the accident that has already claimed two lives

Malda-bridge-collapse-bengal-ANI The affected area in Malda, West Bengal | ANI Twitter

The under-construction flyover which collapsed at Baishnabnagar in West Bengal's Malda district on Sunday was under the supervision of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The flyover which was to connect Bengal's biggest power station town—Farakka—with Malda was commissioned by the NHAI last year and was being constructed on a 50-50 partnership between an Indian and Chinese firm. Malda police superintendent Alok Rajoria said that cases have been registered against the construction companies and investigation would be carried out. "Only after the investigation, we can find the reasons. We have registered cases for the deaths of the workers," he said, adding that the NHAI is carrying out another probe. Two people—structural engineer Srinivas Rao and worker Sachin Prasad—have succumbed to their injuries while four more are fighting for their lives.

NHAI officers in Bengal said there were no structural flaws as the flyover was being built with modern technology and equipment. "We are totally in the dark about how it happened. A team of officials from Delhi will visit the place along with our team of experts," said a senior official of NHAI.

But experts said that there must be flaws—may not with the technology used, but structural flaws that could have crept because of the hurry to finish the project fast. "I have seen that authorities want to finish it as early as possible. Also there is local pressure as the construction creates lot of traffic issues which is difficult for police to handle," said Jyotipriya Basu, a civil engineer. He said perhaps the girder on which the flyover was built may not be strong enough. "Also there may have been welding and bolting flaws. Concrete takes at least four weeks to become solid. Till then no further construction should be done on it. But engineers and workers are under pressure to finish it fast," he said.

Political blame game over the incident is set to continue as the BJP had been critical of the TMC government in Bengal after collapse of flyovers commissioned by the state government earlier. "We are certain that the flyover was being built using bad materials. We will take it up in parliament," said a TMC MP. Congress is also going to raise the issue in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Former MLA and minister in Mamata's government Krishnendu Chowdhury spoke of corruption in the construction of the flyover. "Huge syndicate business was going on over the building of the bridge. The demand of ransoms were also reported to me."