KOLKATA - A section of a bridge in a busy area of the eastern Indian city of Kolkata collapsed on Tuesday (Sept 4), killing at least one person, with many feared trapped in the rubble, media reports said.

The army sent troops to the 40-year-old Majerhat bridge to conduct rescue operations as Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences to the victims, NDTV reported.

Following the incident, ambulances and disaster management response force personnel with heavy machinery rushed to the spot to carry out rescue work.

"So far, six people have been rescued and admitted in hospital," Mr Firhad Hakim, a minister in local government said, adding that "it was a 40-year-old bridge. Search operations are underway".

Eyewitnesses said several vehicles including a truck were trapped under the collapsed section of the bridge.