The Uttar Pradesh police on May 16 registered an FIR against officials of the Uttar Pradesh State Bridge Corporation Ltd (UPBC, a government-run entity) over the collapse of the under-construction flyover in Varanasi that claimed 16 lives.
Since November 2017, at least five warning letters were sent to the UP State Bridge Corporation (UPSBC). Not even this, even an FIR was also registered in February this year for not following traffic safety regulations during construction, claims Uttar Pradesh police.
“A case has been registered against UPBC officials and employees who were working on the site during the incident under Section 304 and Section 308 of the Indian Penal Code following a complaint by roadways police outpost in-charge,” confirmed SSP Varanasi RK Bhardwaj.
SSP further added, “I had carried out a joint inspection with UPBC officials in February to look into the problem of traffic jam on the road along the construction site. UPBC officials were asked to follow safety measures but they did not take any precaution. We have registered a case against UPBC officials for not taking safety measures.”
However, after the major tragedy, the blame game has started over the same. Rajan Mittal, MD UPBC is blaming the Varanasi district administration officials for the tragedy.
“We had written several letters to the police and administration authorities to regulate and impose traffic restrictions around the construction site. But our requests went unheeded,” he said.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered strict probe against the incident. Accompanied by deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya, he visited the site to carry out further investigations.
A three-member probe committee is constituted by Chief Minister to gather the inputs and samples (iron, cement rods, and other construction material) from the spot in order to submit the report within 48 hours.
Meanwhile, the compensation has been given to victims and deceased families.
