At least 78 people are dead after a bridge collapse in India
A pedestrian suspension bridge over a river collapsed on Sunday in the Indian state of Gujarat, leaving at least 78 people dead.
According to The Times of India newspaper, there were at least 100 people on the bridge when it collapsed, so dozens who fell into the river are still missing. Some reports speak of up to 400 people on the bridge.
Several people were left hanging when the infrastructure collapsed and were rescued or managed to climb up and out of it. 17 people were transferred to hospitals.
The bridge, from the 19th century colonial era, had been reopened for pedestrian use this week, after undergoing a repair process. Authorities told the press that the bridge had given way due to the number of people on it.
BREAKING: Bridge with hundreds of people collapses into river in western India pic.twitter.com/eRRIk0aMsS
— BNO News (@BNONews) October 30, 2022
Gujarat State Minister Brijesh Merja said a rescue operation for people who fell into the river is under way. Three teams from the National Disaster Response Force went to the scene, according to local media.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is just visiting his home state of Gujarat, said he was “deeply saddened by the tragedy.” His office announced compensation to the families of the dead and urged to speed up and strengthen the rescue efforts.
