Prime Minister Narendra Modi To Visit Mobri Bridge Collapse Site: 10 Things To Know

A bridge in the Gujarat state of western India collapsed on Sunday night. The tragedy caused at least 141 deaths, and teams are looking for numerous additional missing people, in addition to the 177 who have so far been saved.

The Morbi bridge was built in the 19th century and is 230m (754ft) bridge over the Machchu River, which was constructed under the British administration. Just a week prior, the bridge in Morbi, Gujarat, had reopened following repairs. Several hundred people were reportedly on the bridge as it fell on Sunday at about 18:40 India time (13:10 GMT). A video taken prior to the collapse showed it to be crowded with people, swaying, and with several holding onto the netting on its sides.

The bridge was reportedly packed at the time as people celebrated the Chhath celebration, according to the police. According to a local official, women, children, and elderly people made up the majority of the dead. According to reports, more fatalities are expected.

Here are 10 things to know about the Gujarat bridge collapse:

- When the cables supporting the suspension bridge collapsed, about 500 people—including women and children—were on it. They all fell into the river below. Officials estimate that the bridge could take the weight of only about 125 people.

- On the 150-year-old bridge, which is 300 kilometres from Vadodara, many people were performing Chhath puja ceremonies.

- People fell on top of one another when the bridge crashed down. Videos showed many people desperately clinging to the bridge's wreckage, but some were seen swimming to safety.

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- The Machchhu River Bridge had been closed for seven months for maintenance. On October 26, the Gujarati New Year, it was reopened to the public without a fitness certification from the local authorities.

- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is now in Gujarat, stated that rescue and relief efforts have been ongoing since yesterday and that the central government is offering the state all possible assistance. He will visit Morbi tomorrow.

- A criminal case has been filed, according to Gujarat's Home Minister, Harsh Sanghavi, and a five-person high-powered commission is looking into the bridge collapse. He said, "A case has been registered under charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and intentional act causing death against whoever is found responsible."

- Throughout the night, five teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) searched for the missing. Later on, the Army, Navy, and Air Force joined the operation.

- The state government has declared that each victim's family will receive Rs. 4 lakh in compensation, in addition to Rs. 50,000 for those who were injured. The victims' families will receive Rs. 25,000 in financial aid, according to the prime minister.