30-ft hoarding topples onto EM Bypass, triggers 2-hr jam
Times of India | 9 October 2024
Kolkata: Motorists had a miraculous escape around 11.30 am on Tuesday when a 30-foot-high hoarding fell down on the EM Bypass near Captain Bheri close to the Metropolitan Crossing. The hoarding was mounted on a bamboo structure, put up barely a day before.
The incident caused huge traffic jam as the structure covered a portion of the “The tail of the jam extended as far back as the Hyatt crossing on the Bypass and across Nicco Park towards Salt Lake.
The hoarding could finally be removed around 1.15 pm and normalcy was restored after 30 minutes,” said a police officer.
Sources said it was raining heavily when the incident took place. “There was no casualty as very few vehicles were on the road at that time,” said an investigating officer.
HaryanaJammu & KashmirHaryanaAlliance ViewiParty ViewSeats: 90ResultsMajority: 46BJP48CONG37INLD2AAP0OTH3Results: 90/90BJP WONJammu & KashmirAlliance ViewiParty ViewSeats: 90ResultsMajority: 46JKNC42BJP29CONG6PDP3OTH10Results: 90/90HUNG ASSEMBLYSource: PValueWith just one lane open for the vehicles, cops had to put up several barricades to divert vehicles, said an officer. “During puja, there is always additional pressure on the south-bound lane. While smaller vehicles could pass the area — two at a time — getting the buses to cross the spot turned out to be a nightmare,” said a traffic cop at Lalbazar.
Based on a report from Beleghata Traffic guard, police have written to KMC to recheck the stability of these temporary hoardings. “We have said that with the weather being unfavourable, we cannot afford another such incident,” said an officer. KMC said they have not given any permission to put up the hoarding and was absolutely in the dark about who put up the hoardings on the Bypass.
What added to the pressure on Bypass was the fact that the rain also brought down the average speed on Maa flyover. There were also snarls around Panchannagram and Tiljala after water accumulated on the edge of the lane, forcing vehicles to stick to the middle of the road.