Facebook activates safety check after flyover collapse

In view of the tragic flyover collapse here, Facebook has activated its safety check feature for people in Kolkata which will allow its users to mark themselves ‘safe’.

“Safety check a simple way to say you’re safe and check on others — was activated for people in Kolkata due to the collapse of a flyover,” a Facebook spokesperson said.

This feature allows anyone in Kolkata to mark himself or herself ‘safe’ to let their Facebook friends know that the person is fine.

It also allows people to check on other friends in the affected area.

The feature has been used all over the world by Facebook in times of natural or man-made disasters.

Meanwhile, the collapse of a portion of an under-construction two-km flyover on a congested road intersection here prompted app-based taxi operators like 

Uber and Ola to provide free or surge-free rides to and from the affected site. Ola, an Indian app-based operator has said that it would not charge for any ride to and from the affected area — Girish Park in North Kolkata.

In a similar gesture, US-based operator Uber said there would be no dynamic pricing in and around the area and would ask the cab drivers to locate their vehicles mostly near the collapse site.