At least 134 people were killed in a bridge collapse in India. Hundreds of people ended up in the water. The pedestrian bridge over the Machu River has reopened after months of repairs.
The accident occurred in Morbi, Gujarat state. The rescue operation is still underway. The number of casualties could still rise. Among the dead were an unknown number of children. They are currently on school holidays due to Diwali, the festival of lights, and the bridge is a tourist attraction.
According to local media, up to 400 people were on the suspension bridge at the time of the collapse. Authorities say “more than 150 people”. It is possible that the 230-meter-tall building collapsed under the weight.
Television footage showed dozens of people clinging to cables and the remains of the bridge as emergency services tried to rescue them. Some climbed the broken structure in an attempt to reach the banks of the river, while others tried to swim.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already announced compensation for the relatives of the victims and the injured. A five-member investigative team must discover how the disaster could have occurred. The bridge dates back to the 19th century and was built when India was still a colony of Great Britain.
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