Gujarat: According to the latest updates on the Morbi suspension bridge collapse, more than 60 people, including children, have been killed and over 100 are missing as the Machu Dam suspension bridge at Morbi in Gujarat collapsed on Sunday evening, Minister Briesh Merja informed
Rescue teams and emergency medical assistance were dispatched to the scene.
Former Morbi MLA Kantilal Amrutia told local media that he and his team have retrieved at least 8 bodies and more than 80 people were trapped in the Machu River after the bridge collapsed.
The bridge has been closed for the past two years and reopened after repairs just a day ago. As it was Sunday and Diwali is a holiday, more than 500 people, including children, had come to see the bridge when the incident occurred, Morbi town Congress chief Rajeshbhai Kawar said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken cognizance of the incident and has instructed the state machinery to send all assistance to the Morbi administration and expedite rescue and emergency medical services.
Morbi MLA and minister Brajesh Merja said that due to the night and the water flow in the river, the locals and fire brigade teams were facing difficulties in carrying out rescue operations. Fire crews from the surrounding districts were also sent to Morbi to speed up the rescue work.
(IANS)