As many as 133 people died and about 93 injured in a bridge collapse on Sunday in Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian media reports quoting official sources said.
The British-era century-old cable suspension bridge over Machchu river in Morbi – opened after renovation hardly a week ago – collapsed when around 500 people had congregated on it to perform some rituals in connection with the Chhath puja – a Hindu religious festival mainly celebrated in the eastern states of Bihar and Jharkhand.
The suspension bridge — 200 km from the state capital Ahmedabad — collapsed at 6.42 pm local time on Sunday evening.
Many of the dead are women and children, locals said.
The UAE has expressed its sincere condolences and solidarity with India over the tragedy.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the Indian government and people and to the families of victims, as well as its wishes for a speedy recovery to all the injured, WAM reported.
The Gujarat government said in a statement on Monday 132 bodies have been handed over to their respective relatives.
According to the statement, of the 11 people who were injured, six have been discharged and five are under treatment in hospitals. The statement added 172 people were rescued.
According to local media reports, videos from the spot showed many struggling in the water, trying to reach the bank in darkness on Sunday evening.
Search and rescue operations continued into wee hours on Monday morning, with teams from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force pitching in.
The injured are being treated at both government and private hospitals, state government officials said.
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