- At least 141 people have died when a suspension bridge collapsed in Morbi, Gujarat state, India.
- At least 170 people were rescued from the river
- Numerous people are still missing.
The accident happened in Morbi in the state of Gujarat, according to the newspaper “The Times of India” and local media. Many victims fell into the water. A major rescue operation is underway. Helpers were in boats.
Gujarat’s Interior Minister Harsh Sanghavi said more than 170 people had been rescued. A local TV station speaks of 177 people. The footbridge, which spans the Machchhu River, was only recently reopened after renovation work, it said. The building was around 100 years old.
According to local media, many people were on the suspension bridge at the time of the collapse. Hundreds of people were mentioned in some media. «We are shocked. An investigation is underway,” Gujarat Labor Minister Brijesh Merja told NDTV.
Images and videos on social media show how the structure appears to be falling apart in the middle and several people are clinging to avoid falling into the water.
There is no official information on the cause so far. Media reports say that the construction may not have withstood the load of too many people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office announces compensation for victims’ families on Twitter.