Portions of flyovers collapse at two places ...Crater formed on NH31 in Chopra

(Top) The crater formed on the flyover at Chopra; (above) the under-construction flyover on NH31D after its collapse. Pictures by Kousik Sen and Passang Yolmo  

TT, Raiganj/Siliguri: A portion of a flyover along NH31 in North Dinajpur's Chopra has caved in and chunks of earth and concrete are falling on the subway.

On Saturday, a portion of an under-construction flyover on NH31D which is part of East West Corridor collapsed at Kantibhita in Phansidewa, around 25km from Siliguri. Darjeeling district magistrate ordered Larsen & Toubro (L&T) that was building the flyover to stop the work. The flyover on NH31 at Chopra is also a part of the East West Corridor.

"Every day, thousands of vehicles move along the flyover at high speed. Wheels of any vehicle can fall into the crater that formed after the cave-in. The crater might grow in size as more chunks of concrete and bitumen are giving away. We have informed the local BDO and demanded immediate repairs," said Jakir Abedin, the sahakari sabhapati of Chopra panchayat samiti.

The BDO in turn informed Arvind Kumar Mina, the district magistrate of North Dinajpur, who has contacted National Highways Authority of India. "The East West Corridor project has been built by the NHAI and is maintained by it. We have asked the officials to take up repairs on an emergency basis," said the DM.

On Sunday, senior officials of L&T visited the under-construction flyover at Kantibhita and said some heavy container truck might have hit the structure, leading to the collapse of four concrete planks measuring 25cm east.