No fewer than 100 persons were killed after a cable bridge collapsed into a river days after it was reopened following renovations.
According to officials, over a hundred people were plunged into the Machchu river when the bridge in Morbi district collapsed in the western Indian state of Gujarat on Sunday evening, October 30.
The 19th-century, colonial-era bridge was reopened after renovation some days ago.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
Officials said that the bridge gave way because it could not handle the number of people on it.
“Due to the bridge collapse, several people fell into the river. A rescue operation is underway,” Merja was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency.
“There are reports that several people have suffered injuries. They are being rushed to hospitals.”
Video on social media showed dozens of people clinging to the cables and twisted remains of the bridge as emergency teams struggled to rescue them.
Some clambered up the broken structure to try to make their way to the riverbanks, while others swam to safety.
Prateek Vasava, who swam to the riverbank after falling from the bridge, told 24 Hours local news channel that he witnessed several children fall into the river.
“I wanted to pull some of them along with me but they had drowned or got swept away,” he said.
The bridge had collapsed in just a few seconds, he said.
Gujarat’s home minister, Harsh Sanghavi, said that more than 150 people were on the narrow cable-stayed bridge, a tourist attraction that draws many sightseers during the festive season when Diwali and Chhath Puja is celebrated.
The 230-meter-long (750ft) bridge was built during British rule in the 19th century. It had been closed for renovation for six months and was reopened to the public last week.
India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, who was in his home state of Gujarat for a three-day visit, said he had directed the state chief minister to urgently mobilise teams for the rescue operation.
The state government has formed a five-member special investigation team to conduct an investigation into the disaster.
Morbi is one of the top areas of ceramic manufacturing in the world and accounts for more than 80% of India’s ceramics output.
The incident comes before elections in Gujarat that are expected to be held by the end of the year, with the current term of Modi’s ruling party ending in February 2023.
Watch Video Below;
FLASH: A cable bridge collapse in Western India has left at least 40 people dead and over 100 trapped. Take a look:pic.twitter.com/klYIaWBacX
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) October 30, 2022
