West Bengal minister blames construction firm for Kakdwip bridge collapse

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA from Kakdwip assembly constituency, Manturam Pakhira, alleged that the construction company, which was assigned by Sundarban Development Board to build the bridge on Kalnagini river (locally known as Kalnagini canal), did few wrong steps during the construction works which might have led to the collapse.

"Every span of the nearly 120-metre-long bridge has three girders and after being cast, the concrete girders need a support to get stronger," Manturam Pakhira told IBNS.

"Without consulting with the engineers of our department, the construction agency removed the iron support from the girders before time and it might have led to the bridge collapse," Pakhira said.

The minister, who laid the foundation stone of the bridge three years ago, said that a probe had been ordered into the reason behind the collapse.

"After a proper investigation, exact reason behind the bridge collapse will be known and if anyone's negligence or blunder in making the bridge is established, strict action will be taken against him/her," Manturam Pakhira added.

Earlier at around 9:30 am. on Monday, a span of an under-construction bridge, which was being built to connect Paschim Stimar Ghat with Paschim Gangadharpur area over Kalnagini river in Kakdwip development block, collapsed.

Locals claimed that quality of raw materials, which were being used in constructing the bridge, were very poor.

"We found a crack in the span days ago and had informed the construction company's engineers. But, they did not give importance to our warnings," a local villager told IBNS.

"Poor quality of raw materials that used in making the bridge resulted the disaster," the villager added.  

However, no casualty was reported in the incident.

After Kolkata's Vivekananda flyover disaster and Siliguri's Phansidewa flyover tragedy, this was the third incident of under-construction bridge collapse in West Bengal since 2016.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)