Some 177 individuals rescued and 19 persons are receiving medical care as search operations proceed in a single day, officers say.
The loss of life toll from the collapse of a colonial-era suspension bridge in India’s western Gujarat state has risen to 132, in accordance with officers, as rescue employees labored by way of the night time, combing the Machhu River for survivors.
Harsh Sanghavi, Gujarat’s house minister, informed reporters that the loss of life toll rose from 68 on Sunday to 132 early on Monday as search operations continued.
Gujarat’s Info Division mentioned about 177 individuals had now been rescued, whereas 19 had been receiving medical care.
The bridge in Morbi, a city some 200km (120 miles) west of Gujarat’s major metropolis Ahmedabad, was constructed throughout British colonial rule within the nineteenth century and had been closed for renovations for practically six months earlier than it was reopened to the general public final week.
A whole bunch of sightseers celebrating Diwali and the Chhath Puja holidays, had been on the 230-metre (755-foot) bridge when it collapsed on Sunday, in accordance with native media.
Tv footage confirmed dozens of individuals clinging onto the cables and twisted stays of the bridge as emergency groups struggled to rescue them.
Some clambered up the damaged construction to attempt to make their technique to the river banks, whereas others swam to security. A number of youngsters had been among the many victims.
Prateek Vasava, who swam to the river financial institution after falling from the bridge, informed the 24 Hours Gujarati-language information channel that he noticed a number of youngsters fall into the river.
“I wished to tug a few of them together with me however they’d drowned or bought swept away,” he mentioned.
The bridge collapsed in just some seconds, he mentioned.
One other witness, who gave his identify as Sukram, informed the Reuters information company that the bridge had collapsed as a result of it couldn’t deal with the load of so many individuals.
“Many youngsters had been having fun with holidays for Diwali they usually got here right here as vacationers. All of them fell one on high of one other. The bridge collapsed because of overloading,” he mentioned.
Gujarat’s authorities mentioned an investigation was underneath method into the reason for the catastrophe.
It mentioned greater than 200 rescue employees had been mobilised for the search and rescue operation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who’s in Gujarat, his house state, for a three-day go to, introduced a cost of 200,000 Indian rupees ($2,428) to households of the useless.
The injured will obtain 50,000 Indian Rupees ($607), he mentioned in a tweet.
Armenia, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and others despatched their condolences over the tragedy.
Italy’s international ministry expressed its “deep sorrow” and “condolences for the victims and our utmost sympathy to their households and all of the [Indian] individuals at this tragic time”.
Deep sorrow of Italy 🇮🇹 for the collapse of the bridge over the Machchhu river in India. We categorical our condolences for the victims and our utmost sympathy to their households and all of the 🇮🇳 individuals at this tragic time. pic.twitter.com/R5QivmzGrz
— Italy MFA (@ItalyMFA_int) October 30, 2022
The UAE mentioned it stood in “solidarity with India”, whereas Sri Lanka mentioned it was “shocked and distressed by the tragic accident in Morbi”.
Shocked and distressed by the tragic accident in Morbi, Gujarat, with the collapse of the bridge. The Govt & individuals of #SriLanka be a part of me in extending deepest condolences to the Govt. & individuals of #India, particularly the households of the residents who misplaced their lives. (1/2)
— PMD (@PMDNewsGov) October 31, 2022
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