Search and rescue work is going on as a cable suspension bridge collapsed in Morbi town of western state Gujarat, India, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. The century-old cable suspension bridge collapsed into the river Sunday evening, sending hundreds plunging in the water, officials said. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
As families mourned the dead, attention was turning to why the bridge, built by the British in the late 1800s and touted as an “engineering marvel,” collapsed and who might be responsible.
Rescuers on boats search in the Machchu river next to a cable suspension bridge that collapsed in Morbi town of western state Gujarat, India, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. The century-old cable suspension bridge collapsed into the river Sunday evening, sending hundreds plunging in the water, officials said. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
The local government had awarded a 15-year contract to maintain and manage the bridge to a Morbi-based company, Ajanta Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd., mainly known for making clocks, mosquito racquets and electric bikes.
Rescuers on boats search in the Machchu river next to a cable suspension bridge that collapsed in Morbi town of western state Gujarat, India, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. The century-old cable suspension bridge collapsed into the river Sunday evening, sending hundreds plunging in the water, officials said. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
It reopened the bridge, which spans a wide section of the Machchu river, on Oct. 26. That’s the first day of the Gujarati New Year, which coincides with the Hindu festival season, and the newly reopened attraction drew hundreds of sightseers.
Search and rescue work is going on as a cable suspension bridge collapsed in Morbi town of western state Gujarat, India, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. The century-old cable suspension bridge collapsed into the river Sunday evening, sending hundreds plunging in the water, officials said. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Sandeepsinh Zala, a Morbi city official, told the Indian Express newspaper the company had reopened the bridge without first obtaining a “fitness certificate.” That claim could not be independently verified, but the state government said it had formed a special team to investigate the disaster.
Rescuers on boats search in the Machchu river next to a cable suspension bridge that collapsed in Morbi town of western state Gujarat, India, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. The century-old cable suspension bridge collapsed into the river Sunday evening, sending hundreds plunging in the water, officials said. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Authorities said the structure collapsed under the weight of hundreds of people. Security footage of the disaster showed bridge shaking violently and people trying to keep hold of its cables and green-colored metal fencing before the aluminum walkway gave way and crashed into the river.
Volunteers and health workers carry a victim after a cable bridge across the Machchu river collapsed in Morbi town of western state Gujarat, India, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Dozens are dead and many are feared injured in the accident. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Visuals from the disaster site showed the bridge split in the middle and the metal walkway hanging down, its cables snapped in places. At least 177 survivors were pulled from the river and teams from the army, navy and air force were looking for others still missing, said Jigar Khunt, an information department official in Gujarat.
Volunteers and health workers carry a victim after a cable bridge across the Machchu river collapsed in Morbi town of western state Gujarat, India, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Dozens are dead and many are feared injured in the accident. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
State minister Harsh Sanghvi told reporters that 133 people were confirmed dead and many others were admitted to hospitals in critical condition. Emergency responders and rescuers worked overnight to search for the survivors. Most of the victims were teens, women and older people, he said.
Volunteers and health workers carry a victim after a cable bridge across the Machchu river collapsed in Morbi town of western state Gujarat, India, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Dozens are dead and many are feared injured in the accident. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
It was not immediately clear exactly how many people were on the bridge when it collapsed but survivors said it was so densely packed that the crowd was unable to quickly move to safety when its cable began to snap.
Rescuers on boats search in the Machchu river next to a cable suspension bridge that collapsed in Morbi town of western state Gujarat, India, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. The century-old cable suspension bridge collapsed into the river Sunday evening, sending hundreds plunging in the water, officials said. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
“There were just too many people on the bridge. We could barely move,” Sidik Bai, 27, said while recovering from injuries in a hospital bed in Morbi.
Volunteers and health workers carry a victim after a cable bridge across the Machchu river collapsed in Morbi town of western state Gujarat, India, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Dozens are dead and many are feared injured in the accident. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Sidik said he jumped into the water when the bridge began to crack and saw his friend being crushed by its metal walkway. He survived by clinging to the bridge’s cables, but his friend didn’t make it.
Relatives sit near the bodies of victims after a cable bridge across the Machchu river collapsed in Morbi town of western state Gujarat, India, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Dozens are dead and many are feared injured in the accident. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
“Everyone was crying for help, but one by one they all began disappearing in the water,” Sidik said.
Rescatistas en botes buscan a personas en el río Machchu debajo de un puente que se vino abajo el domingo 30 de octubre de 2022, en el distrito de Morbi, India. (Foto AP/Rajesh Ambaliya)
Local news channels ran pictures of the missing shared by concerned relatives and family members raced to overcrowded hospitals searching for their loved ones.
Rescuers on boats search in the Machchu river next to a cable bridge that collapsed in Morbi town of western state Gujarat, India, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. The century-old cable suspension bridge collapsed into the river Sunday evening, sending hundreds plunging in the water, officials said. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visiting his home state of Gujarat, said he was “deeply saddened by the tragedy.” His office announced compensation for families of the dead and called for speedy rescue efforts.
Relatives of a victim mourn after a cable bridge across the Machchu river collapsed in Morbi town of western state Gujarat, India, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Dozens are dead and many are feared injured in the accident. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
“Rarely in my life, would I have experienced such pain,” Modi said during a public event in the state on Monday.
Rescuers on boats search in the Machchu river next to a cable bridge that collapsed in Morbi town of western state Gujarat, India, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. The century-old cable suspension bridge collapsed into the river Sunday evening, sending hundreds plunging in the water, officials said. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Modi was the top elected official of Gujarat for 12 years before becoming India’s prime minister in 2014. A Gujarat state government election is expected in coming months and opposition parties have demanded an investigation into the collapse.
Relatives of a victim mourn after a cable bridge across the Machchu river collapsed in Morbi town of western state Gujarat, India, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Dozens are dead and many are feared injured in the accident. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
The bridge collapse is Asia’s third major disaster involving large crowds in a month.
Rescuers on boats search in the Machchu river next to a cable suspension bridge that collapsed in Morbi town of western state Gujarat, India, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. The century-old cable suspension bridge collapsed into the river Sunday evening, sending hundreds plunging in the water, officials said. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Hindu devotees perform rituals at sunset on the banks of the River Sabarmati during Chhath Puja festival in Ahmedabad, India, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. During Chhath, an ancient Hindu festival, rituals are performed to thank the Sun god for sustaining life on earth. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
India’s infrastructure has long been marred by safety concerns, and Mordi has suffered other major disasters. In 1979, an upstream dam on the Machchu river burst, sending walls of water into the city and killing hundreds of people in one of India’s biggest dam failures.
Hindu devotees gather by the river Brahmaputra and offer prayers during Chhath Puja festival in Guwahati, northeastern Assam state, India, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. During Chhath, an ancient Hindu festival, rituals are performed to thank the Sun god for sustaining life on earth. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
In 2001, thousands of people died in an earthquake in Gujarat. Morbi town, 85 miles (150 km) from the quake’s epicenter in Bhuj, suffered widespread damage. According to a report in the Times of India newspaper, the bridge that collapsed Sunday also was severely damaged.
Search and rescue work is going on as a cable suspension bridge collapsed in Morbi town of western state Gujarat, India, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. The century-old cable suspension bridge collapsed into the river Sunday evening, sending hundreds plunging in the water, officials said. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
