New Delhi: In a tragic incident in Varanasi’s cantonment area, a portion of under construction flyover collapsed near the Cantt railway station, killing at least 18 people under its weight.

Many labourers are feared to be trapped under the ruins and the death toll is expected to rise.

It is reported that NDRF rescue team has reached the spot to carry rescue operations.

Many cars, bikes and other vehicles have been crushed badly under the weight of the block. The bridge had been under construction since a long time and it suddenly collapsed in the evening today.

Here are the live updates of the accident:

  • Death toll in Varanasi accident rises to 18, Home Minister Rajnath Singh took stock of the situation. "HM also spoke to the district magistrate of Varanasi who has apprised him of the incident. The @NDRFHQ teams have been rushed to the spot for rescue operations," the home minister's office tweeted.

  • NDRF rescues three people from the flyover collapse site.





  • Death toll rises to 16. The first toll reported death of 12 people, which increased to 16 within hours. It may rise further.


 

  • CM Yogi announces ex-gratia for the victims and an aid for those seriously injured.

    CM Yogi Adityanath expresses sadness over #Varanasi flyover collapse incident, announces ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for kin of those dead, Rs 2 lakh for seriously injured. He says a committee has been formed to look into the incident which will submit its report in 48 hrs. pic.twitter.com/6cDnJZ9yQU


    — ABP News (@abpnewstv) May 15, 2018


  • Prime Minister Modi tweeted to express his grief over the tragedy. Varanasi is the electoral constituency of PM Narendra Modi.

    Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to the collapse of an under-construction flyover in Varanasi. I pray that the injured recover soon. Spoke to officials and asked them to ensure all possible support to those affected.


    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 15, 2018



  • CM Yogi has expressed grief over the accident. Deputy CM KP Maurya & Minister Neelkanth Tiwari have been directed by CM to visit the site of accident. CM has directed administration to speed up rescue operation, said UP Minister Sidharth Nath Singh.


 

  • Here are some pictures of the deadly accident.


 



 

Cantonment railway station is the prime railway station of Varanasi and is the busiest area of the city.

It should be noted that Varanasi is a tourist Centre and that is why people from across India as well as foreigners keep visiting the place, making Cantt a bustling entry point of the city.

The accident happened near Vasundhara colony of the area.