At least 91 people have died and a hundred more are missing after a suspension bridge collapsed over a river in the western Indian state of Gujarat, according to the latest toll.
According to eyewitnesses, some 500 people, including women and children, were crossing the bridge amid the collapse.
The Morbi suspension bridge, over the Machchhu River, was a historic British colonial-era structure that was restored and reopened to the public just four days ago on the occasion of the Gujarati New Year celebration.
State Minister for Employment, Housing and Development Rusal Brijesh Merja explained that «it had been inaugurated last week.» «We too are shocked. The government assumes responsibility for this tragedy,» he stressed in statements to the NDTV channel.
Merja confirmed the arrival of three platoons of rescue forces, 50 Indian Navy personnel as well as two columns of Army personnel and seven Fire Brigade teams from Rajkot, Jamnagar and Diu.
The MP for Rajkot, Mohan Kundariya, estimated the number of injured to be around 100, although this figure could not be verified.
According to the same sources, dozens of people were reportedly submerged and several could still be trapped under the rubble. Rescue efforts have been hampered by nightfall.
For the time being, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has announced aid to the families of the deceased and ordered a special rescue deployment to assist those affected by the tragedy, in an area that is difficult to access by road.
The National Relief Fund under the Prime Minister’s office has announced the granting of 20,000 rupees (about 244 euros) in aid to the families of the victims.
The opposition has blamed the accident on the ruling Bharatiya Hanata Party (BJP), called for a commission of inquiry and claimed that the bridge did not have the necessary municipal authorization to reopen.
