Bridge Collapse In India Traps More Than 100

On Thursday, a bridge under construction collapsed in Kolkata, India as moving vehicles passed underneath. Parts of the steel and cement flyover fell onto traffic. According to Reuters, at least 10 people were killed, and as many as 150 are believed to be trapped. The portion of the Vivekananda Bridge in the eastern Indian city had been under construction for more than five years.

It was not immediately clear how many more were killed or injured, but the casualty toll is expected to rise. "The condition is pathetic," officer Raichand Mohta tells Reuters. "At this moment no one has any clue how many people are trapped." Horrific video shows swarms of people attempting to help those trapped beneath, using their bare hands to lift rubble.

The incident happened in one of the city's densest neighborhoods. The bridge section, which appeared cramped between several tall buildings, reportedly missed several deadlines to be completed. According to Reuters, remiss safety standards for construction sites aren't uncommon in the country.

In 2009, an 80-year-old bridge in Bihar collapsed, killing six people and injuring 26. In 2011, 32 people died after a bridge outside Darjeeling collapsed into a river. Just this past February, 45 people were killed in a bridge collapse in Rajasthan, India's largest state.