Indian police said Saturday that they were investigating possible murder charges against 10 construction company employees who had been either arrested or detained in connection with the collapse of an unfinished overpass in Kolkata this week that killed at least 26 people and injured more than 80.
Three employees of the IVRCL Infrastructure Co., which was building the overpass, were arrested late Friday, and the others were being held for questioning. Police said they had opened a case of culpable homicide against the firm.
Rescuers continued clearing rubble from the scene of Thursday's accident. Sixty-nine people have been pulled out alive, but authorities said they doubted more survivors would be found.
Rahul Gandhi, a leader of the opposition Indian National Congress Party, visited the accident site Saturday. Later, Gandhi went to a hospital where he talked to injured victims.
Workers were pouring concrete when a 100-meter section of the bridge suddenly collapsed onto the crowded street below.
Teams from India’s National Disaster Response Force and military personnel were brought in to aid in the rescue effort. Prior to their arrival, residents and firefighters had been using their bare hands in an effort to free those who were trapped.
Some information for this report came from AP.
