AP: Probe ordered into flyover mishap

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh Government has constituted a technical committee to inquire into the flyover incident.

The sudden collapse of a section of the flyover in the busy Punjagutta junction in Hyderabad on Sunday night killed two persons, injured more than a dozen and destroyed a large number of vehicles.

The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, while ordering the inquiry also announced the suspension of three engineers of the Municipal Corporation. The committee will be headed by Mr Siva Reddy, Engineer in Chief of Roads and Buildings, who has been directed to submit the report by Saturday.

The committee will include representatives from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, IIT, Chennai, National Academy of Construction and Osmania University.

The Rs 30-crore flyover is under construction by Gammon India.

The company in a statement said that when the flyover was under construction, water pipeline work was also taken up alongside the flyover by other agencies.

This was objected to as it would loosen the soil. To add to this problem heavy rain and waterlogging worsened the situation.

Questioning the version of Gammon India, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board defended that “It is the duty of Gammon to verify loose soil strata and take suitable precautions and necessary support to prevent any differential settlements before bridge slab segments were loaded.”

Solace to families

Following a review meeting here today, the Chief Minister ordered Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the family members of those killed in the mishap and Rs 20,000 to those injured.

The Government also decided to pay compensation to the damaged autos and other vehicles which are not covered by insurance.