A terrible accident in Gujarat; At least 60 people died as cable bridge collapses in Morbi
At least 60 people, including women and children, were killed when a cable bridge over the Machhu river collapsed in Gujarat's Morbi town on Sunday evening. Officials gave this information. According to officials, the bridge was nearly a century old and was recently opened to the public after repair and renovation work. Officials said the bridge, which was reopened to the public four days ago, was crowded with people.
He said that the bridge broke at around 6.30 pm. Gujarat Minister Brijesh Merja told reporters, "At least 60 people died in the accident." Witnesses said that there were many women and children on this "hanging bridge" of the British era when it broke down. Due to this people fell into the water below. An eyewitness said some people were seen jumping on the bridge and pulling on its large wires.
He said that the bridge may have collapsed due to the huge crowd of people on it. He told that due to the collapse of the bridge, people fell on each other. An eyewitness said, “I had come after my office hours with friends to the bank of the river when we heard the breaking of the bridge. We reached there and jumped into the water to save the people. We saved some children and women."
A person who was injured in the incident said that the accident happened suddenly and it may have happened because of too many people on the bridge. Due to the Diwali holiday and Sunday being a major tourist attraction, the bridge was crowded with tourists. A private operator did the repair work on the bridge for about six months. The bridge was reopened to the public on 26 October, the Gujarati New Year's Day. A fire brigade official said boats were being used to rescue people from the river.
“We are carrying out rescue operations with the help of boats. There are around 40-50 people in the river.” The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has sent three teams to the Morbi district. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said he was saddened by the tragedy. "Relief and rescue operation is on by the administration. The administration has been directed to make arrangements for immediate treatment of the injured. I am in constant touch with the district administration in this regard."
The Chief Minister's Office said that an 'isolation ward' has also been set up in the civil hospital for the treatment of those injured in the bridge collapse. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a tweet that Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Patel and officials regarding the accident. Modi is currently in Gujarat. The PMO said, "He (Prime Minister Modi) has asked for immediate deployment of teams for the rescue operation. He has asked to keep a close watch on the situation and extend all possible help to the affected people."
President Draupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed grief over the collapse of the bridge and prayed for the safety of others. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said he was deeply saddened by the bridge collapse incident and appealed to the party workers in the state to extend all possible help in the rescue work. Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi also said that the news of the bridge collapse is very sad. He also appealed to all Congress workers to extend all possible help to the injured. Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Binoy Viswam has hit out at the BJP over the bridge collapse incident, claiming that the incident indicates the gross negligence of the state government.
