35 feared killed, many go missing as cable bridge caves in Gujarat

National35 feared killed, many go missing as cable bridge caves in Gujarat

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More than 500 people were standing on the bridge and all of them fell into the river, local administration said. The bridge, which was recently renovated, was reopened to the public on October 26, but it failed to withstand the pressure and collapsed, sources said.

Ahmedabad (Gujarat): Nearly 35 people, including women and children, are feared dead and many went missing after a century-old cable bridge over Machchhu river in Gujarat’s Morbi city caved in on Sunday evening, official sources said.

More than 500 people were standing on the bridge and all of them fell into the river, local administration said. The bridge, which was recently renovated, was reopened to the public on October 26, but it failed to withstand the pressure and collapsed, sources said.

Panic and chaos prevailed everywhere in Morbi city because of the accident. According to local legislator Brijesh Merja, a rescue operation has begun and the injured were sent to hospital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a three-day visit to Gujarat, directed chief minister Bhupendrabhai Patel to mobilise teams and launch a rescue operation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah directed the National Disaster Relief Force to reach the spot of the accident as early as possible. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s office announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each of those who died in the accident and Rs 50,000 for each of the injured.

A similar incident occurred at Malanka village in Junagadh district of Gujarat on October 7, 2019, which was also a Sunday. A bridge collapsed owing to incessant rainfall in the region. Although several people were trapped under the debris of the bridge, no loss of life was reported.

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