India flyover collapse: company bosses ‘facing murder charges’

Indian police are investigating possible murder charges against 10 construction company employees who have been either arrested or detained in connection with the collapse of an unfinished overpass in Kolkata that killed at least 24 people, officials said Saturday. Rescuers continued clearing rubble from the scene of Thursday’s accident. Some 67 people have been pulled out alive, but rescuers doubted more survivors would be found.

There is no possibility of finding any person alive.

S.S. Guleria, of the India’s National Disaster Response Force

Three arrested employees of Hyderabad-based IVRCL Infrastructure Co. were to appear Saturday in court where arguments for formal charges would be heard, a police officer said. Seven other employees have been detained, according to the Press Trust of India news agency. Police also sealed the company’s Kolkata office. The employees are being questioned over possible charges of murder and culpable homicide, crimes that are punishable by death or life imprisonment, and criminal breach of trust, which carries a prison sentence of up to seven years, police said.

We have to go into the details to find out whether the collapse was due to any technical or quality issue.

IVRCL official K.P Rao

Kolkata