Rescue operations drew to a close Monday morning at the site where a flyover under construction in one of the busiest areas of Hyderabad collapsed Sunday evening, claiming two lives and injuring nine.
Two heavy cranes had cleared most of the debris of the collapsed portion of the flyover in Punjagutta, one of the busiest commercial areas in the city.
"Due to heavy rains the earth caved in and this led to the collapse of supporting iron structure," C.V.S.K Sharma, special officer and commissioner, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) told IANS at the accident site.
The rescue work continued through the night. Officials said only two of the eight segments or concrete slabs remained to be cleared.
He said six cars and three auto rickshaws were crushed under the falling iron structure and segments. One more vehicle is feared to be trapped under the debris.
The mangled remains of cars and three-wheelers bore testimony to the disaster. Tonnes of iron scaffolding erected to mount the pre-fabricated segments fell on motorists amidst heavy rains. However, officials heaved a sigh of relief as there were fears of heavy loss of life. They said there was no heavy rush with Sunday being a holiday.
An inquiry by engineer-in-chief, roads and buildings department, has been ordered into the accident. Asked whether there was any negligence on the part of the construction company, he said he would reply only after the inquiry.
Police have registered a case of negligence against Gammon India, the company building the two-km long flyover at a cost of Rs.300 million.
Police have also closed the Punjagutta-Nagarjuna Circle road for traffic and GHMC has ordered that the flyover work be stopped till the inquiry is completed.
The accident in the heart of the city and on a key road that links Hyderabad Airport to Hitec City came as a setback to municipal authorities as they were busy building half a dozen flyovers in different parts of this technology hub.
They include an 11.5-km long expressway, India's longest flyover, connecting the city to the upcoming international airport at Shamshabad on the outskirts.
The accident site is about 100 yards from the busy Panjagutta junction where the multiplex Hyderabad Central is located. It is one of the busiest junctions in the city linking Begumpet to several areas including up-market Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills.