More than 130 people have died in Gujarat after a British-era bridge collapsed just a week after renovation. The suspension bridge -- 200 km from Ahmedabad -- collapsed at 6.42 pm on Sunday when around 500 people had congregated on it. The cable bridge snapped due to a heavy rush of people, sources in India's top forensic laboratory have said.
Oreva group, a Gujarat-based watchmaker, carried out the repairs on the century-old bridge. It reopened the bridge on October 26, the Gujarati New Year.
Eyewitnesses say there were several women and children on the nearly 150-year-old bridge when cables supporting it snapped, sending scores of people tumbling into the river below.
Here are the highlights on Gujarat cable bridge collapse:
A day after more than 130 people died in a bridge collapse in Gujarat's Morbi, nine people have been arrested. Among them are managers of Oreva, the company that renovated the bridge, ticket collectors, bridge repair contractors and three security guards whose job was to control the crowds.
A day after 141 people died in a bridge collapse in Gujarat's Morbi, nine people were arrested. Among them were officials of Oreva, the company that renovated the bridge, ticket sellers and security men.
Gujarat Bridge Collapse: Watch: Horrific Moment When Gujarat's Bridge Crashed, 500 People On ItJust before a British-era bridge collapsed at Gujarat's Morbi on Sunday evening, people were deliberately rocking it. At least 140 people died after the bridge crashed into the river.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the Morbi bridge collapse in Gujarat and demanded a fair investigation into the matter.
"The government should do a fair investigation and find out how the bridge collapsed after being open after renovation a few days ago and punish the culprits. Good treatment should be provided to the injured and the families of the deceased should be given compensation," said Mr Gehlot.
Earlier, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also expressed grief over the loss of lives in the Morbi bridge collapse in Gujarat even as he raised questions on the collapse of the bridge that was opened last week. The Congress chief also demanded an inquiry into the mishap.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the Morbi bridge collapse in Gujarat.
"It is a sad incident. Many people have died. It was an old bridge which was repaired recently. Government should look into it," Bihar Chief Minister told media persons here.
According to the latest estimates, at least 141 people, including women and children, were killed and over 100 are receiving treatment for their injuries sustained after a cable suspension bridge in Morbi town collapsed on Sunday, plunging people, into the Machchhu River.
BJP Lok Sabha member from Rajkot, Mohan Kundariya, today said 12 of his relatives were among those killed in the suspension bridge collapse in Gujarat's Morbi town.
At least 141 people were killed after a suspension bridge on the Machchhu River collapsed last evening, according to the police.
#Statement | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's sincere condolences to the friendly Republic of #India, due to the unfortunate collapse of a suspension bridge in the western Indian state of #Gujarat, which caused a number of casualties. pic.twitter.com/BemvFACuu9
- Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) October 31, 2022
Exclusive: Gujarat Bridge Reopened Ahead Of Schedule https://t.co/wJ6oraBimY
- NDTV (@ndtv) October 31, 2022
NDTV's Ankit Tyagi reports from outside the Oreva office in Morbi pic.twitter.com/lFbHPZUwWw
Exclusive: Gujarat Bridge Reopened In 7 Months In Clear Contract ViolationThe bridge that collapsed in Gujarat's Morbi yesterday, killing more than 140 people, was opened to the public months before time by the private company hired for its maintenance, documents reveal.
Watch: Horrific moment when Gujarat's bridge crashed, 500 people on it pic.twitter.com/eM3x8mywbt
- NDTV (@ndtv) October 31, 2022
NDTV's Tanushree Pandey reports from Morbi, where a bridge collapse killed over 140 people. pic.twitter.com/7InPoT0dnI
- NDTV (@ndtv) October 31, 2022
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his anguish over the bridge tragedy in Gujarat.
गुजरात के मोरबी में हुए पुल हादसे की खबर बेहद दुःखद है। ऐसे मुश्किल समय में मैं सभी शोकाकुल परिवारों को अपनी गहरी संवेदनाएं व्यक्त करता हूं।
- Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 30, 2022
सभी कांग्रेस कार्यकर्ताओं से अपील करता हूं कि दुर्घटना में घायल व्यक्तियों की हर संभव सहायता करें और लापता लोगों की तलाश में मदद करें।
5 Facts About Old Bridge In Gujarat That CollapsedNinety-one people were killed after a century-old cable bridge collapsed over River Machhu in Gujarat's Morbi city this evening. Reports say there were hundreds of people on the bridge when it snapped.
#BREAKING | 132 deaths have been reported so far: Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi on #MorbiBridgeCollapse pic.twitter.com/5zYGeRIcN6
- NDTV (@ndtv) October 31, 2022
At least 132 people have died in Gujarat after a British-era bridge collapsed just a week after renovation. The suspension bridge -- 200 km from Ahmedabad -- collapsed at 6.42on Sunday when around 500 people had congregated on it to perform some rituals in connection with the Chhath puja.
