According to NDTV in India, the death toll has risen to 91 after a bridge collapsed in the Gujarat region. The news outlet also reported an official informing them that the suspension bridge allegedly opened four days ago after seven months of repairs, but lacked the official ‘fitness certificate’ from the municipal authorities.
Sandeepsinh Zala, the Chief Officer of Morbi Municipality told them: “The bridge was given to Oreva company for operation and maintenance for 15 years. In March this year, it was closed to the public for renovation. It reopened after renovation on the Gujarati New Year day celebrated on October 26”.
He added: “It was opened to the public after the completion of the renovation work. But the local municipality had not yet issued any fitness certificate after the renovation work”.
Sunday, October 30 at 5:05pm
At least 28 people are feared to have died by drowning this evening, Sunday, October 30, in the Gujarat region of western India when a pedestrian cable bridge suddenly snapped and collapsed. Around 400 people are thought to have been crossing the bridge at the moment it broke, plunging them into the waters below.
Initial reports online suggest that another 43 people have been injured, with at least 80 other people missing in the river. Video footage uploaded onto social media shows the horrific aftermath of the collapse in the Morbi district.
One video, taken some hours before the incident occurred, shows the bridge totally packed full of people trying to cross. According to one news source, the cable bridge had only recently reopened five days ago following renovation work.
#Breaking: Just in - Reports that a pedestrian Cable bridge broke up and had collapsed in #Morbi, #Gujarat region in #India, about 400 people fell in the river, many feared to have drowned. pic.twitter.com/zF50QmTCUl
— Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) October 30, 2022
#Breaking: Update - At least 28 people dead and over 43 people injured, at least 80 other people are missing after a pedestrian Cable bridge that broke up and had collapsed in a river in #Morbi, #Gujarat region in #India. pic.twitter.com/IT1jSwd9Dg
— Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) October 30, 2022
#Breaking: Update - Local news in #Morbi, #Gujarat region in #India, is now reporting of at least 50 people dead, 43 injured many other people missing possible drowned. after a pedestrian Cable bridge that broke up and had collapsed in the river. pic.twitter.com/OhBvRJ8AwG
— Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) October 30, 2022
The area has no electricity connection - a factor that is making the rescue operations further difficult. Mohan Kundariya, Member of Parliament from Rajkot, said more than 60 bodies have been fished out of the water so far. Reports from the local hospital state that the death toll has risen to 91, with many patients in critical condition.
The incident took place at 6.40 pm when dozens of people were on the bridge, known as Julto Pool (shaking bridge); the 230-metre-long (754 feet) colonial-era crossing was built during British rule of India in the 19th Century.
The bridge was owned by the Morbi municipality. However, the civic body had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Oreva Group, a private firm a few months ago, handing over its operations and maintenance for 15 years
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has announced compensation, has spoken to Gujarat Chief Minister and other officials regarding the accident
For Ahmedabad resident Vijay Goswami and his family members, it was a close shave as they had visited the suspension bridge in Gujarat's Morbi on Sunday afternoon, but returned halfway through the bridge out of fear after some youths from the crowd started shaking it.
A few hours later, their fears proved right when that bridge on the Machchhu river, a tourist attraction, collapsed around 6.30 pm, killing at least 90 people.
Mr Goswami said when he and his family were on the bridge, some youths started shaking the bridge intentionally, making it difficult for people to walk. He said since he felt this act could prove dangerous, he and family returned without proceeding further on the bridge. He said he even alerted the bridge staff about it, but they were indifferent.
The British-era bridge had reopened for the public just four days back after remaining shut for renovation work for seven months.
Goswami said he had gone to Morbi with family to enjoy the Diwali vacation.
"There was a huge crowd on the bridge. My family and I were on the bridge when some youths started shaking it intentionally. It was impossible for people to stand without holding any support. Since I had a feeling that it may prove dangerous, my family and I came back after covering some distance on the bridge," Mr Goswami told reporters after reaching Ahmedabad.
"There was a huge crowd on the bridge. My family and I were on the bridge when some youths started shaking it intentionally. It was impossible for people to stand without holding any support. Since I had a feeling that it may prove dangerous, my family and I came back after covering some distance on the bridge," Mr Goswami told reporters after reaching Ahmedabad.
"Before leaving the spot, I alerted the on-duty staff to stop people from shaking the bridge. However, they were only interested in selling tickets and told us that there is no system to control the crowd. Hours after we left, our fears turned true as the bridge eventually collapsed," he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment