Nature of collapse makes extraction of bodies difficult

This massive chunk of the 'concrete deck' of the bridge has crushed the truck under it, making extraction of dead bodies not only difficult,  but also perilous for the search and rescue personnel

GANGTOK, 19 Dec: With tons of concrete and an entire nearly 60 tonne 48-wheeler resting upon them, the dead bodies of those killed in the vehicle following the collapse of the steel girder bridge had still not been recovered till late evening today. The first to arrive on the scene were Sikkim Police personnel along with Home Guards to organize and conduct rescue operations with gas cutters etc. A team from the Singtam Fire Brigade arrived next.

While three bodies were recovered and brought up soon after the accident, bodies trapped inside the 48-wheeler could not be recovered due to the precarious manner in which the collapsed slab of concrete was perched over the vehicle.
The 48-wheeler belonging to Teesta Urja, constructing the Teesta Stage III hydel project, which went down with the bridge was crushed underneath a huge slab of concrete upon which another vertical slab of concrete from the bridge was perched. Given this situation, cutting through the slab of concrete which had crushed the vehicle was not seen as an option, especially in the dim possibility that there could still be survivors in the vehicle.
As the SP East, Dr. MS Tuli, explained, cutting through that slab of concrete could bring the other slab perching upon it crashing down upon the vehicle, definitely killing any survivors and also making the extraction of dead bodies even more difficult.
Moreover, Sikkim Police personnel and the Home Guards at the spot were not particularly familiar with the bridge and its design, making it a risky proposition to try to disengage it by themselves.
The DC [East], D Anandan, was at the spot. The GREF Chief Engineer had been called in to assist in the rescue operations. Since it was a GREF-constructed bridge, it was deemed necessary to bring them in as they would be better informed about the design of the bridge and the best possible way to disengage the trapped bodies.
The GREF was expected to arrive with its team and instruments to assist in the rescue operations by evening.
Ambulances were ready on both sides of the collapsed structure, ready to rush any survivor or injured person to the hospital, although this was a dim possibility. Apart from the GREF, the DC had also called in personnel from Teesta Urja and NHPC to assist in the rescue operations.