Photo: Nandan Dave/Anadolu Agency via Getty
At least 134 people have died in India after a suspended walking bridge collapsed into a river on Sunday.
The collapse occurred Sunday eveningover the Machchhu Riverin Morbi, located in the western Indian state of Gujarat, according toThe Washington Postand CNN.
“Many children were enjoying holidays for Diwali and they came here as tourists,” an eyewitnesstold Reuters. “All of them fell one on top of another.”
As of Monday morning, the death toll has surpassed 130 people, though that number could still rise, reported thePost. So far, about 170 people have been rescued, an administrative official for Morbi district told CNN.
A Gujarat police official toldThe Washington Postthat there are still people missing, although an official number was not provided to the newspaper.
The bridge, which had been closed for repairs, was recently reopened without first getting clearance from the government, city official Sandeepsinh Zala told theIndian Express. Citing local officials, Reuters reported that Oreva, the company in charge of the renovations, did not inform authorities that the bridge would be reopening, nor was any certificate clearing the bridge for public use issued.
On Monday, officials arrested nine people in connection with the collapse, according toThe Washington Postand CBS News.
Two Oreva executives, two contractors, three security guards and two ticket window clerks areamong those arrested, according to thePost.
“While we are waiting for more information, prima facie, the bridge collapsed as too many people in the mid-section of the bridge were trying to sway it from one way to the other,” an Oreva spokesperson said in a statement according to theIndian Express, per Reuters.
Nandan Dave/Anadolu Agency via Getty
Officials believe the 19th century bridge — which is about 230 meters (754 feet) long —was overcrowdedwhen it fell into the water, according to the BBC.
Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said an estimated 200 people are believed to have been on the bridge at the time of its collapse, according to CNN.
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SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty
Video of the collapse has been circulating on social media since the incident occurred. In one clip, the bridgeappeared to swayside to side while pedestrians maneuver along the narrow walkway before dropping into the water below.
Another clip, taken after the collapse, shows victimsclinging to the bridgeas they awaited rescue.
Most of the victims are women, children or elderly people, a local official said, the BBC reported.
Oreva received its contract from the town to oversee the bridge’s maintenance and management in March, according to theExpress.
A criminal complaint has also been filed against “the agency responsible for maintaining the bridge” and the “management agency,” per thePost’s report. Oreva was not specifically identified, nor was any other firm.
A special committee has been formed to investigate Sunday’s accident, according to CNN and CBS News.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the site of the bridge collapse on Tuesday, according to theExpress.
Modi said families of the victims will be compensated via the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, according to CNN.
source: people.com
