Dozens feared trapped beneath the rubble as flyover collapse kills 15

At least 15 people have been killed and 150 feared trapped after a partially built flyover collapsed in the Indian city of Kolkata. They died when slabs of concrete from the bridge fell on to traffic using the road below. Rescuers are using their bare hands to try to save those caught under the rubble, witnesses say. Others are passing water bottles through to those who are crying out for help from beneath the debris. Army officers and the National Disaster Response Force have been sent to help rescue efforts.

We heard a loud rumble and then saw a lot of smoke.

A nearby resident

A senior police officer on the scene said that 15 critically injured people had been rescued. A 140-tonne crane brought to the scene was unable to lift the concrete slab under which many people were feared trapped, including passengers in a minibus. Construction of the flyover was supposed to be completed three years ago, but it has been delayed several times. Building collapses are common in India, partly because of the poor enforcement of regulations and the use substandard materials.

Most were bleeding profusely. The problem is that nobody is able to drive an ambulance to the spot.

Akhilesh Chaturvedi, a senior police officer

Kolkata