A bridge connecting Chhatra Bazaar and Malgodown in Cuttack city collapsed on Wednesday evening. Many people are feared to be trapped under the debris.
The incident occurred during evening peak traffic hours. Eyewitnesses claimed that two persons have been rescued in critical condition. They have been rushed to a nearby hospital.
An ODRAF team has rushed to the spot to carry out the rescue operation.
Cuttack DCP Prateek Singh and District Collector, Bhabani Shankar Chayani have also reached the spot to supervise the rescue operations.
Speaking about the mishap, Chayani said, "This is unfortunate that this kind of a mishap occurred during the renovation and expansion work of the Taladanda Canal road."
Asked about the alleged inadequate safety measures taken while undertaking renovation works, Chayani said, "All the measures were at place. Our primary aim is the well being of the injured. I will be able to say more only after completion of a probe."
As per reports, the old bridge was already in a dilapidated condition and the Taladanda Canal Renovation project was undergoing in the vicinity.
Many traders and retail vegetable vendors gather on the bridge during the evening hours for trading. Many of them are suspected to have been trapped in the debris after the bridge collapsed all of a sudden.