In Gujarat's Morbi (around 65 km from Rajkot), the "hanging bridge" or "Jhoolta Pul" has been standing for 143 years. Built in the 19th century by the British, it had been a small tourist attraction for visitors to the place. But on October 30, Sunday, the bridge gave away and took down over 100 people with it.
Moments before the collapse: CCTV footage captured the moment the bridge collapsed:
CCTV footage of moments before Morbi bridge collapse, India Today's @gopimaniar gets us more details on this. #ITVideo #BridgeCollapse | (@snehamordani) pic.twitter.com/Gagc00K8Zf
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) October 31, 2022
The latest: The suspension bridge collapse in Morbi has so far claimed 141 lives. Rescue operations are currently underway. Local media reported that there were as many as 500 people on the bridge when it collapsed into the Machchhu river beneath.
#WATCH | Several people feared to be injured after a cable bridge collapsed in the Machchhu river in Gujarat's Morbi area today
— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2022
PM Modi has sought urgent mobilisation of teams for rescue ops, while Gujarat CM Patel has given instructions to arrange immediate treatment of injured pic.twitter.com/VO8cvJk9TI
Rescue operations: Three Indian Coast Guard teams have been deployed at the site of the accident in Morbi since last night.
Three Indian Coast Guard teams consisting of divers, equipment, boats and other material have been deployed on-site at Morbi since last night: Defence officials pic.twitter.com/blmRpqIK1V
— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2022
What happened? The suspension bridge was reportedly renovated and opened for visitors just 5 days ago.
Photos: (Source: AP, PTI)
Political response: Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences to the kin of victims and promised an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of victims and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
PM @narendramodi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each of those who lost their lives in the mishap in Morbi. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 30, 2022
Gujarat | Early morning visuals from the accident site in #Morbi where more than 100 people have lost their lives after a cable bridge collapsed.
— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2022
Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi is also present at the spot. pic.twitter.com/TxtzWySFGT
Deeply shocked to hear about the tragic loss of life in the bridge collapse at Morbi in Gujarat.
— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) October 30, 2022
The bridge was allegedly “renovated” 5 days ago.
In a rush to declare things “done” before election code of conduct, Election Commission, BJP & Modi have literally murdered people.
Fake news alert: A video of the bridge in Morbi with a few people shaking the wires of the bridge is going viral claiming to have been shot moments before the Sunday tragedy. However, this video is not a recent one and is fake.
Fake news alert 🚨
— Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) October 30, 2022
This is an old video of the newly-renovated cable bridge that collapsed in Gujarat’s Morbi city today. It wasn’t shot right before the tragedy took place as it’s being alleged here. https://t.co/1R867JJSDm
For the survivors and witnesses, the tragedy brings back horrible memories of the 1979 Machchhu dam collapse. The flooding caused by the collapse of the dam had killed over a thousand people.