Varanasi flyover collapse yogi says preliminary action taken

Varanasi flyover collapse- Yogi says preliminary action taken At least 15 people were killed as a portion of a flyover being built by a state-run corporation collapsed on busy road in Varanasi on Tuesday; catch all the live updates here

Preliminary action had been taken against erring authorities responsible for the Varanasi flyover collapse that killed at least 15 people and critically injured 11 on Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said this morning. Two pillars of an underconstruction flyover in Varanasi's Cantt area had collapsed the previous day, bringing down a huge slab, which crushed a mini-bus, cars and two-wheelers.He also met victims at the Kabir Chaura Hospital on late Tuesday night.Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also took stock of the situation in Varanasi. Union Health and Family Welfare minister J P Nadda directed Health Secretary Preeti Sudan to stay in touch with the health officials of Uttar Pradesh.Meanwhile, KR Sudan, the project manager of the flyover, said the reason behind the mishap could only be ascertained after the completion of the investigation.Earlier in the evening, the district administration had rushed to the spot for rescue operations and more than a dozen cranes had been pressed into service.

Many of those trapped were reported to be labourers working on the flyover, according to an NDTV report.The flyover was being constructed by Uttar Pradesh State Bridge Corporation and was scheduled to be inaugurated last December.Addressing reporters last evening, UP Minister Sidharth Nath Singh had said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had directed the administration to speed up rescue operation. Two ministers were also sent to the city to take stock of the situation.

Here are the top 10 developments in the Varanasi flyover collapse incident that killed as many as 15 people and critically injured 11 others: 1. Preliminary action taken against authorities concerned: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath early Wednesday morning said preliminary action had been taken against the erring authorities responsible for the Varanasi flyover mishap, in which at least 15 people had been killed and 11 critically injured.

2. Deputy CM to personally monitor relief ops: Adityanath also added that he had asked Maurya and the minister concerned to personally monitor rescue and relief works. "A committee has also been constituted which will give a report in 48 hours," he added.

3. PM Modi expresses grief on Twitter: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who represents Varanasi in the Lok Sabha, expressed grief over the deaths while the Opposition targeted the UP government over the tragedy in the "top-priority constituency of the country". “Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to the collapse of an under-construction flyover in Varanasi. I pray that the injured recover soon. Spoke to officials and asked them to ensure all possible support to those affected,� Modi said in a tweet on Tuesday 4. Nadda directs Health Secretary to monitor Varanasi tragedy: Union Health and Family Welfare minister J P Nadda directed Health Secretary Preeti Sudan to stay in touch with health officials of Uttar Pradesh. Health Secretary also spoke to Principal Health Secretary of Uttar Pradesh and offered all help to the victims.

5. Rajnath takes stock of situation, expresses deep anguish over the tragedy: Home Minister Rajnath Singh took stock of the situation in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi district.

Singh also expressed deep anguish over the tragedy.

6. CM Adityanath announces ex-gratia, forms committee to probe: UP Chief Minister Adityanath on Tuesday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 500,000 to the family of people, killed in flyover collapse incident in Varanasi's cantonment area. The Chief Minister also announced a compensation of Rs 200,000 to the injured people. He also said that a committee has been formed to look into the incident.

7. Seven NDRF teams of over 325 personnel pressed into service: Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar said around 7 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams of over 325 personnel had been deployed for relief operations at the site of Varanasi under-construction flyover collapse incident.

8. Chief Project Manager suspended: After being held responsible for the Varanasi bridge collapse incident, Chief Project Manager HC Tiwari, Project Manager KR Sudan, Assistant Engineer Rajesh Singh & engineer Lal Chand have been suspended with immediate effect, said UP Deputy Chief Minister KP Maurya, ANI reported 9. Varanasi flyover collapse like the Kolkata footover bridge collapse of 2016: DGP OP Singh was quoted by media reports as saying: "We are in the process of evacuating the 50 people trapped under the debris. A majority of the people trapped are suspected to be the construction workers." Singh also recalled the Kolkata flyover collapse and went on to say that rescue operations were on in full swing.

10. The three-member committee that has been constituted by the UP govt: The Uttar Pradesh government constituted a three-member committee of Agriculture Production Commissioner Raj Pratap Singh, Irrigation Department Chief Engineer Bhupendra Sharma and Jal Nigam Managing Director Rajesh Mittal to probe the collapse and submit a report within 48 hours.

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