A bridge collapsed in the Indian state of Gujaratin the west of the country, causing hundreds of people to fall into a river. According to the latest budget at least 132 people have died till now.
Authorities estimated that around 500 people, including women and children, were celebrating a religious festival on and around the suspension bridge over the Machchhu River in the city of Morbi when the cables supporting it gave way shortly after sunset. Fr Dekavadiya, chief of the city police, said more than 130 people were rescued.
The Minister of the Interior of Gujarat, Tough Sanghavihe said the bridge may have collapsed due to a cable at one end that appears to have snapped.
On the net circulate i video recorded in the moments immediately following the collapse that show dozens of people intent on climbing the structures of the collapsed bridge into the water. The videos shot before the collapse instead show many people crowding the suspension bridge, probably more than it could support.
The structure had recently been reopened to the public after recent renovations. Also for this reason, the state of Gujarat filed a complaint against the agency that was in charge of the maintenance of the 230-meter-long bridge, built in the 19th century and reopened last week after the renovations, the minister said.
A five-person special investigation committee was set up to investigate the incident, Sanghavi said during the search and rescue operation.
