Gujarat: 130 die as suspension bridge over Machhu river collapses:50 Navy, 30 Air Force men mount rescue efforts

TV footage showed dozens of people clinging on to the cables and twisted remains of the collapsed structure as emergency teams struggled to rescue them

Footage shows the twisted remains of the suspension bridge over the Machhu river in Morbi, Gujarat, on Sunday: PTI picture

Reuters, PTI   |   Morbi   |    31.10.22  : The death toll in Morbi suspension bridge collapse in Gujarat rose to 130 on Monday with rescue personnel recovering more bodies from the Machchhu river, a police official said, reports PTI.

At least 60 people were killed when a pedestrian bridge over a river in Gujarat’s Morbi city collapsed on Sunday, plunging hundreds of people into the water, officials said.

The century-old bridge was reopened just four days ago after extensive repairs and renovation. It was crammed with people when it collapsed around 6.30pm, the officials said.

“At least 60 persons have died in the tragedy,” Gujarat minister Brijesh Merja told reporters at Morbi, around 300km from the state capital.

Unconfirmed reports put the death toll at 80. At least 30 were injured, officials said.

Authorities said more than 400 people were on and around the suspension bridge over the Machhu River in Morbi at the time of the collapse on Sunday evening. The turnout at the tourist attraction was high because it was a Sunday and it had coincided with the Diwali week.

TV footage showed dozens of people clinging on to the cables and twisted remains of the collapsed bridge as emergency teams struggled to rescue them.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now in Gujarat, where Assembly elections are expected to be announced any day.

One of the injured being treated at a hospital in Gujarat.: PTI picture

Eyewitnesses said there were several women and children on the British-era “hanging bridge” when it snapped, plunging them into the water below.

Some people were seen jumping on the bridge and pulling its big wires, an eyewitness said. The bridge may have collapsed because of the “huge crowd” on it, he added.

People fell over each other when the bridge collapsed, he said.

Prateek Vasava, who swam to the riverbank after falling from the bridge, told a 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.

A private operator had carried out repairs on the bridge for nearly six months before it was reopened to the public on the Gujarati New Year’s day, October 26.

A fire department official said that boats were being used to rescue people from the river.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a tweet that Modi had spoken to officials.

Modi sought urgent mobilisation of teams for rescue operations, the PMO said, adding that the Prime Minister has asked that the situation be closely and continuously monitored, and all possible help extended to those affected.

The 230-metre bridge was built during British rule in the 19th century.

Morbi is one of the largest ceramic manufacturing clusters in the world and accounts for more than 80 per cent of India’s ceramic output.

Fifty navy and 30 air force personnel were called in to help along with a national disaster management team to trace those missing, the government said.

The state government has formed a five-member special investigation team to probe the disaster.

Chief minister Bhupendra Patel said he was saddened over the tragedy.