At least 60 dead, dozens injured in India bridge collapse

New Delhi – At least 60 people are feared dead and many more injured after a 100-year-old cable suspension bridge collapsed into a river in the western Indian state of Gujarat on Sunday night, with hundreds jumping into the water, it said. officials said.

Officials said a 19th-century colonial bridge over the Machu River in the state’s Morbi district could bear the weight of huge crowds as hundreds were drawn to the recently opened tourist attraction during Hindu festival season. The bridge had been closed for repairs for almost six months, but was reopened just four days ago.

It was not immediately clear how many people were on the 232-meter (761-foot) long bridge, but officials fear the death toll could rise. State Minister Brijesh Merja told reporters that so far he has killed 60 people and hospitalized 17.

First responders and rescue workers were searching for survivors, and most of the casualties were teens, women and the elderly, Merja said. Indian Army, Navy and Air Force teams were also sent to assist in the rescue.

“Relief efforts are underway,” Merja was reportedly told Press Trust of India news agency. “There are reports that several people were injured. They are being taken to hospital.”

Videos on social media show people clinging to metal cables on the partially submerged bridge as emergency teams and rescue workers used boats and inflatable tires to reach them. . Several people were seen swimming to shore safely. Those caught from the sea were transported by private vehicles or ambulances to hospitals.

A local news channel posted a photo of the missing person, shared by officials looking for loved ones.

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.

With votes on the Modi-led Gujarat government set to take place in the coming months, the opposition has demanded an investigation into the collapse, saying the bridge was reopened without obtaining a safety permit from the city’s civil society. ing. We were unable to independently verify the claims.

Modi ruled the state as the highest elected official for 12 years before becoming India’s prime minister in 2014.

The bridge collapse is Asia’s third-most-crowded catastrophe in a month.

Saturday, More than 150 dead, mostly young people, in Halloween crowd surge People attending a festival in Itaewon, Seoul, South Korea. Indonesian police on October 1 Fired tear gas at football match, causing crash that killed 132 When the spectator tries to escape.

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https://www.local10.com/news/world/2022/10/30/at-least-60-dead-many-injured-after-india-bridge-collapse/ At least 60 dead, dozens injured in India bridge collapse

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