Kolkata flyover collapse: Several dead and more than 100 still trapped

At least 14 people have been killed and more than 100 are feared trapped underneath a flyover that collapsed in the Indian city of Kolkata.

Emergency services and military personnel are at the scene of the Vivekananda flyover, which was under construction when it fell onto moving traffic.

"There was a loud sound which scared us," said eyewitness Ramesh Kejriwal. "The concrete had been laid last night at this part of the bridge."

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The incident occurred near the densely populated area of Girish Park, with the death toll expected to rise considerably.

Rescue efforts are being hampered by a lack of coordination and adequate equipment, according to Reuters.

Raichand Mohta, a police officer at the scene, said conditions were "pathetic".

He added: "At this moment no one has any clue how many people are trapped."

The BBC's Rahul Tandon reported: "Locals have been digging through the huge slabs of rubble with pick axes while police hold back relatives desperate for news of the missing."

Rajnath Singh, India's minister for home affairs, tweeted he was "deeply saddened to know that precious lives have been lost in the Kolkata accident".

The tragedy is likely to highlight the Indian construction industry's notoriously lax standards and could also influence the upcoming election in the West Bengal state.

"Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, seeking re-election in a regional poll next month, rushed to the scene to survey the damage," says Reuters. "She faces tough questions over who was responsible."