News World News 20 die in Bengal bridge collapse
| 20 die in Bengal bridge collapse |
| News - World News | |||
| Sunday, 23 October 2011 00:32 | |||
|
DARJEELING: A five-day fest in the Darjeeling hills ended in a tragedy on Saturday when about 150 people fell into a river flowing through a 400 feet deep gorge. Till reports last came in, locals found 20 bodies. About 60 people were rescued and admitted to hospital. Many are still missing. Mamata Banerjee is likely to reach Darjeeling on Sunday, while North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb has already left for the accident site. Around 6pm, people were returning from Bijonbari's Chungthung Tar ground after a cultural programme concluded with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung's speech. Thousands had gathered to hear Nepali ghazal singers Uday and Manila Sotang perform earlier in the evening. After Gurung left, the crowd began to disperse. An eyewitness said some youth in a drunken state broke into a dance at the end of the 150 ftx8 ft bridge blocking the road for people crossing the bridge. As the crowd swelled on the wooden suspension bridge, its cables snapped and over 150 people fell into the gorge below. "I heard screams as people fell nearly 400 feet into the river below," said Bijonbari resident Vir Bahadur Ghimire, whose three granddaughters were missing. Their father managed to jump out of the bridge. Soon after the bridge collapsed, locals began rescue operations. But heavy rains hampered their efforts. Power cut also added to their problems.
|
Ads
Translate
