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."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
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."
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Will Starmer’s India visit herald blossoming new relations?Today's Big Question Despite a few ‘awkward undertones’, the prime minister’s trip shows signs of solidifying trade relations
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
'Axis of upheaval': will China summit cement new world order?Today's Big Question Xi calls on anti-US alliance to cooperate in new China-led global system – but fault lines remain
-
A private zoo run by Asia's richest family is facing criticism and investigationsUnder the radar The zoo is owned by Anant Ambani, the son of Asia's richest person
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
