Panjagutta Flyover under construction collapses
At least 15 people dead, 20 injured; Rescue operations begins
Hyderabad, September 9, 2007
A flyover under construction at Panjagutta has collapsed leaving 15 people dead and many injured. The collapse happened near Himalaya Book shop at the ever busy Nagarjuna Circle. The number of casulaties is believed to be huge. The injured are rushed to various hospitals.
Many cars and auto rickshaws passing under the flyover are damaged severely. Many of the commuters moving below the flyover are believed to be dead when two huge concrete blocks fell all of a sudden. Hyderabad District Collector Chandravadan rushed to the spot and asked the district administration to take rescue steps. Staff from the Municipal Corporation have rushed to the spot.
Police are asking people including the media to stay away from the spot. It is still uncertain if the incident happened because of lack of quality in the recently undertaken works, or lack of safety measures during undertaking construction activity or due to rains. Hyderabad experienced rain showers only few hours ago. The flyover constructions works are given to a leading constructing firm Gammon India Limited. The foundation stone for the construction of the bridge was done in September 2005. The flyover works were delayed and the administration extended the deadline asked the company to complete the works by November 2007. The 2 kilometer long flyover is set for construction at a cost of Rs. 33 Crores.
Ambulances of the 108 Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) Service and Appollo Hospitals have rushed many injured. Doctors, Nurses, paramedic staff and other medical staff are alerted at all major hospitals in the region, particularly at the Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), a hospital that is very near to the accident spot are alerted. Medical staff had serious problems rushing to the spot because of traffic congestions. Taxi Driver Srinivas (38) has come to NIMS Hospital on an auto-rickshaw on his own and was treated by the medical staff who are alerted of the incident.
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Senior Congress Leader and MLA from Khairathabad P Janardhan Reddy (PJR) and several Ministers have rushed to the spot and checked the situation. They left the spot after an initial inspection of the situation inorder to give way for relief workers. The Chief Minister ordered the authorities to report back to him about the flyover collapse in one hours time. Former Chief Minister and President of the Telugu Desam Party N Chandrababu Naidu visited the spot. Speaking with the press, Chandrababu Naidu said that corrupt practices have lead to poor quality in the flyover construction works. Mr. Naidu later visited Appollo Hospitals and checked up with the injured.
Update at 11:50 PM IST: CISF Jawans and relief team from the Railways have arrived at the spot. District Collector R.V. Chandravadan when asked about the primary reason for the collapse said that technical experts have to go through the details to arrive at any conclusions and that they are currently concentrating on relief operations. Sources say that the traffic at the Panjagutta - Nagarjuna Circle will be sealed temporarily and city commuters are requested to take alternative routes.
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At least 20 people have died and 20 more are injured after a partially constructed flyover (overpass) in Hyderabad, India collapsed onto traffic.

The disaster occurred at the Panjagutta junction, near Nagarjuna Circle. Two large concrete sections dropped onto oncoming cars and motorised rickshaws, damaging several severely.

A large emergency effort was immediately activated, but experienced severe difficulties in reaching the site due to congested traffic resulting from the collapse. Ambulances from the 108 EMRI Service and Appollo Hospitals attended the scene, and rushed the injured to a variety of nearby hospitals. All the region's major hospitals, particularly the nearby Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences, have placed their medical staff on emergency alert. Rescuers are now using cranes and cutting equipment in an effort to reach anyone who may still be trapped. It is expected that the death toll could rise further as many vehicles remain trapped under tons of debris.

Various politicians also attended the scene, including the local district collector, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Senior Congress Leader and MLA from Khairathabad P Janardhan Reddy and several other ministers.

Police have asked both the public and the press to keep away from the area, in order to prevent further collapse of the unstable structure. Preliminary investigations suggest the flyover had been been poorly constructed. The construction project had been carried out by leading contractor Gammon India Limited. It had been delayed, the original foundations having been built in 2005. After a successful request by the company to have the deadline for the project extended, work was slated to cease in November of this year, with the flyover entering operation by December. It is believed heavy rains in the area a few hours prior to the collapse may have contributed to the disaster.