At least 130 dead, dozens injured after suspension bridge collapses in India

At least 130 people were killed and many more injured when a cable bridge collapsed into a river in western India’s Gujarat state on Sunday night, local media reported.

Authorities told local media that more than 100 people fell into the Machu River when a bridge collapsed in the province’s Morbi district. It was not immediately clear how many people were on the bridge, but officials fear the death toll could rise.

A few days ago, the 19th-century colonial bridge was restored and reopened. Officials said the bridge collapsed because it could not handle the number of people on it.

“Several people fell into the river after the bridge collapsed. Rescue operations are underway,” Melha was quoted by the Press Trust of the Indian Press Service. “There are reports that several people have been injured. They are being taken to hospital.”

Videos on social media showed people in distress clinging to a partially submerged bridge, while another showed people swimming to safety.

Rescue operations are underway and national disaster response force teams are rushing to the scene, local media reported. Indian Army, Air Force and Navy also participated in the rescue operation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in his home state of Gujarat on a three-day visit, said he was “deeply saddened by the tragedy”. His office announced compensation for the families of the deceased and urged a speedy rescue operation.

Meanwhile, the provincial government said it had formed a special team to investigate the disaster.

The bridge collapse is Asia’s third major disaster in a month.

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