7 killed as newly built bridge caves in
Bureau Report

KARACHI—At least seven persons were killed and dozens other injured when part of under-construction Northern-bypass Bridge, leading to Gulbai, collapsed at Paracha Chowk in Shershah area here on Saturday.
According to sources, The bridge known as Northern Bypass was opened by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf August 6, 2007 fell with a huge bang while traffic was on it. Eyewitnesses said that still unknown number of people trapping under the debris while police officials informed that six persons killed while dozens other injured in the tragic incident.
Hospital sources said that two dead bodies and three wounded persons have been brought to Civil Hospital Karachi, while four injured have been transferred to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and one inured was shifted to Murhsid hospital. According to an eyewitness, who rescued his nephew Iqbal from the debris, said that he himself saw 15 to 16 dead bodies under the collapsed bridge. But that could not be confirmed from the authorities. No National Highway Authority (NHA) official was available to provide details of the incident.
Eye-witnesses said a passenger coach, police mobile, trailers and trucks were lying under the debris of collapsed structure. A number of Edhi ambulances and police officials reached the spot and started rescue work. Injured were rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Murshid and Civil Hospital Karachi while efforts were being made to extract others from under the debris. Rescue teams were busy to clear the wreckage to retrieve the injured and survivors but more causalities were feared in the mishap, witnesses said.
City Nazim Mustafa Kamal said they were using heavy machinery and bulldozers to remove debris and pull out injured people trapped in at least two or three vehicles. The authorities, he said, were investigating the cause of the blast. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Chief minister Sindh Dr. Ghulam Arbab Rahim and Chief Minister Ishratul Ibad expressed deep concern over the tragic incident. The probe to the incident has been launched and government assured that stern action would be taken against those responsible for the tragedy.
At least five persons were killed and several people were injured Saturday when a portion of newly inaugurated Shershah Northern By Pass bridge connecting to Hub River caved in at Paracha Chowk of Karachi. The authorities fear that the death toll could rise. According to the eyewitnesses 20-25 persons are still trapped under the debris and care calling through their cell phones for help. The incident occurred Saturday noon when a portion of the bridge was collapsed.
Several vehicles over the bridge went down with the collapsed portion of the bridge structure and trapped under the rubble. Hospital sources have confirmed that two dead bodies have been brought in. CCPO Karachi Azhar Farooq said that the death toll is feared to rise. A coach with several passengers, 2 trucks and many other private vehicles are said to be trapped under the rubble of the bridge. Some Ambulances and the relief teams reached to the spot after the incident but much of the rescue work is being hampered as the heavy machineries and ambulances are facing difficulties in reaching the spot due to heavy traffic jam on the roads of Karachi.
Police have surrounded the area after collapse of the bridge. The people crowded at the place of the incident being advised to go back from the spot as the rest of the bridge has also developed serious cracks and it is feared that it would also collapse. Nazim Karachi Mustafa Kamal has said that NHA had constructed the bridge and a probe would be held to ascertain the real cause of the bridge collapse.
Communication Minister Shamim Siddique talking to Online said that he is present at the site of the accident and is trying to probe that how this bridge collapsed. He said that after the rescue operation a thorough probe would be conducted into the incident and action would be taken against the responsible.
Emergency has been declared at hospitals in the city.
It is worth mentioning that president Musharraf had inaugurated the bridge last month. According to sources NHA and FWO had constructed the bridge for heavy traffic.