is it serious. The search for missing persons in the river is ongoing. More than 100 people, including women and children, who had arrived at this tourist destination, 200 km from Ahmedabad, fell into the river. The incident occurred around 6:30 pm.
The 140-year-old bridge over the Machu River, built during the British era, was closed for six months for maintenance. The 230-meter long bridge was inaugurated 4 days ago after the renovations. Yesterday was a vacation and it was very busy. About four hundred people were on the bridge at the time of the accident. Videos also emerged of people hanging from the sides of the bridge asking for help. Authorities reported that 170 people were rescued.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Gujarat for a 3-day visit, discussed the situation with Prime Minister Bhupendra Patel. The Prime Minister announced that an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each was given to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the wounded. The state government fined Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the wounded. A five-member special team was appointed to investigate.
∙ Disaster Morbi
The greatest tragedy that Morbi witnessed in Gujarat was on 11 August 1979. Thousands of people died when Machudam collapsed. Morbi was then in the Rajkot district. Today the Morbi is a neighborhood. Morbi is the main production center of the tile factories in Gujarat.
Summary in English: Collapse of the Gujarat cable bridge
