With four more deaths today, death toll in the collapse of a portion of an under-construction flyover here has reached to nine, fire brigade official said.
"The death toll in the collapse rose to nine today which occurred yesterday in Parle- point area," Chief Fire Officer of Surat P M Patel, told PTI.
Patel further said 15 persons were trapped in the debris of the collapsed flyover. The fire brigade rescued six persons alive and recovered nine bodies.
"Operation is continuing as the debris are yet to be removed and after that only will declare this operation over," he said.
Till late last night, bodies of five labourers were were recovered from the debris.
The Medical officer of casualty ward in Surat civil hospital Dr R D Burman confirmed the four more deaths here today.
"The four labourers, whose bodies were recovered are identified as Ninka Choharsingh (22), Kamareshwar Choharsingh (28), Surendra Pahelwansingh (28) and Vasant Jehal Rai (32)," Dr R D Burman said.
Earlier yesterday, five labourers identified as Naresh Jagannath (35), Rajendrasingh Sanichar (30), Kharidnar Singh (30), Uditkumar Phooleswar Ram (20) and Videshi Singh (26) were killed in the tragedy.
Commissioner of Surat Municipal Corporation M K Das had said the mishap occurred when the labourers were shifting the columns of the bridge, during which a portion of the flyover fell on them.
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandi Patel had also ordered an inquiry into the tragedy while an official statement said that the state government would bear the expenses for the treatment of the victims.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department, G R Aloria has been asked to conduct the inquiry.
The collapsed flyover was a part of the city's cable- wire bridge connecting Parle point area to Adajan near Tapi river. It was being constructed for the last two years.
