Death toll in Gujarat bridge collapses rises to 132, Army, Navy & Air Force join rescue ops

The death toll in Gujarat’s Morbi hanging bridge collapse increased to 132, while 177 people have been rescued as the Army, Navy and Air Force joined NDRF personnel in the relief operations.

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said on Monday that a criminal case has been registered in connection with the collapse of the 140-year-old suspension bridge over the Machchhu river that was opened five days ago after repairs being carried out by a private company.

“An investigation has begun today under the leadership of Range IGP,” Sanghavi said.

At least 132 people, many of them women and children, have been confirmed dead after the 140-year-old suspension cable bridge on the Machchhu river in Gujarat’s Morbi collapsed on Sunday evening.

The Navy, NDRF (National Disaster Relief Force), Air Force and Army arrived at the spot quickly. More than 200 persons have worked the entire night for search and rescue operations,” Sanghavi said.

Teams of the Army, Navy, Air Force, NDRF, and Fire Brigade conducted a search operation throughout the night to find the Garkaw victims in Macchu river after the bridge collapsed, as per officials.

Chief minister Bhupendra Patel reached Morbi, even as the army, air force and navy were mobilised to join the massive rescue and relief operations underway. According to officials, the bridge had reopened to the public only four days ago after extensive repair work and renovation. They said there were close to 400 people on the British era structure when it snapped, and about 100 fell into the river.

Officials said the bridge was crammed with people, including local residents and tourists, as it is a major attraction in the area. Many people were in the city because of the Diwali holidays and the weekend, and the bridge may have collapsed under the weight of so many people, they added.

According to eyewitnesses and videos recorded by onlookers, many were hanging onto the cables of the bridge to save themselves from drowning. Many others were stuck in the shallow parts of the river in waist-deep water. Some people were seen jumping into the river to help people stuck on the bridge and rescue those who had fallen into the river.

The Rajkot Municipal Corporation boat and rescue materials including life jackets reached Morbi and joined the rescue operation. Emergency ambulances from Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh Metropolitan Municipality and Morbi Municipality were running throughout the night to bring the injured to the hospital immediately, local officials said.