NBCC under fire after bridge collapse

The National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) Ltd, a public sector undertaking, is under fire in Uttarakhand after a bridge being constructed by it collapsed in the floods-hit Uttarakashi district in which a construction worker was killed.

"The construction company which was building the Assi Ganga bridge should be blacklisted with immediate effect and an independent probe should be ordered," said Ajay Bhatt, the leader of the opposition. About 90 per cent of the work of the bridge had been completed when it suddenly collapsed with a loud thud.

The 55 meter long bridge being constructed on Assi Ganga river with a cost of Rs 3 crore had collapsed on Saturday within minutes of its launching, Bhatt alleged.

Though the government had ordered a magisterial inquiry in the incident, Bhatt said the government must take immediate action against all those who were involved in the negligence. "The collapse of the bridge has totally exposed the government's negligence in the reconstruction works being carried out in the disaster-hit areas of the state," said Bhatt.

When contacted, top government officials said they have issued a stern warning to the NBCC on the issue. "We have warned the company that such type of negligence will not be tolerated in future," said Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar.