Gandhinagar: In a terrible tragedy, a suspension bridge collapsed in Gujarat’s Morbi on Sunday evening.
At least 30 people were feared to have lost their lives while many more were injured, NDTV reported quoting Gujarat minister Brijesh Merja.
Unverified reports, quoting local politicians, put the death toll at 60.
The 140-year-old bridge had been repaired recently and reopened for public use just four days ago.
According to media reports, there were around 500 people on the overcrowded bridge, most of whom were learnt to be performing Chhat rituals, when part of it gave way. About 100 people were learnt to have fallen on the Machchhu river.
ANI tweeted a video of the bridge collapse:
#WATCH | Several people feared to be injured after a cable bridge collapsed in the Machchhu river in Gujarat’s Morbi area today. Further details awaited. pic.twitter.com/hHZnnHm47L
— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2022
The focus of the state government is on rescue operations, with SDRF and NDRF teams being summoned to look for survivors and bodies in the river.
Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said that over 70 people have been rescued and taken to hospitals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel to take stock of the situation and assured every kind of Central help necessary for rescue operations.
