At least 141 people have died and many more injured in Gujarat’s Morbi
suspension bridge collapse on Sunday. Nearly 500 people were on the bridge on
account of Chhath Puja festivities on the 150-year-old bridge located 300
kilometres from Vadodara when the bridge fell throwing people into water.
Estimates available so far indicate that nearly 177 people have been rescued.

As the bridge fell, some held on to remnants while others took to
swimming and some of them managed to make it to safety. Watch the exact moment
the bridge collapsed here:

Local media reports say people fell on top of one another. The Morbi
bridge was a suspension bridge over Machchhu river. It was shut for seven
months for repairs. The bridge opened on October 26, the day of the Gujrati New
Year. At the time of reopening, the bridge did not have a fitness certificate.

“Renovation happened last week. We are also shocked. We are looking into
the matter…The government takes responsibility for this tragedy,” said Brijesh
Merja, Gujarat Minister for Labour and Employment, to NDTV.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is also a former three-time
chief minister of Gujarat, said rescue and relief operations have been going on
since Sunday and the Centre is extending help to the state. The PM is scheduled
to visit Morbi on Saturday.

The Gujarat government has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the
families of those who lost their kin in the accident. The injured will be awarded
Rs 50,000 as compensation. Further, the Prime Minister has also announced a
financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of victims.

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi said a criminal case has been
registered and five-member committee has been appointed to probe the collapse. “A
case has been registered under charges of culpable homicide not amounting to
murder and intentional act causing death against whosoever is found responsible,”
said Sanghvi.