Gujarat Bridge Collapse: PM Modi Visits Victims' Relatives, Pledges an "Extensive" Investigation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Morbi, Gujarat on Tuesday

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences for the victims of the bridge collapse incident in Morbi, Gujarat, and pledges an "extensive" investigation.

As per the reports, PM Modi spent nearly 2 hours with people grieving their loss on Tuesday.  

The Prime Minister gave the victims assurance that justice will be served quickly and ordered a thorough investigation into every element of the disaster in order to hold those accountable for the tragedy accountable.

9 people arrested

Nine people have been taken into custody on suspicion of culpable homicide (not amounting to murder). There are two managers of the Oreva Group (Ajanta Manufacturing Pvt Ltd), the business that the municipality hired to maintain the bridge, two ticket takers, two contractors that the company hired to fix the bridge, and three security guards who were supposed to regulate traffic on the bridge.

A cable bridge collapsed in the Machchhu river of the Morbi area in Gujarat on Sunday. At least 130 people have lost their lives, besides several people suffering injuries. Presently rescue operations are on and a number of people have been taken to safety.

“Hundreds of people fell into a river when a cable bridge in Gujarat's Morbi collapsed with several critically injured. Ambulances have reached the spot to carry the injured to hospitals. Boats were being used to rescue people from the river. We are carrying out rescue work using boats. There are around 40-50 people in the river,” a fire department official said.

Eyewitnesses said that there were several women, children, and others on the hanging bridge when it snapped, plunging them into the water below. Due to the Diwali vacation and being a Sunday, there was a rush of tourists on the bridge, a major tourist attraction. Local leaders are also working to help the injured people, says Gujarat Panchayat Minister Brijesh Merja, who is present at the incident spot.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel and other officials regarding the mishap. A statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said Modi sought urgent mobilization of teams for rescue operations. “He has asked that the situation be closely and continuously monitored and extend all possible help to those affected,” the PMO statement said.

3 NDRF teams have already been dispatched- two from Gandhinagar & one from Baroda--to assist in the rescue operation following an accident in Gujarat's Morbi city in which several people fell into the Machchhu river after a suspension bridge collapsed, says DG NDRF Atul Karwal.

Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel have announced ex gratia for the family of the deceased and aid for those injured.

Patel tweeted, “I'm deeply saddened by the tragedy of suspension bridge collapse in Morbi. Relief & rescue ops are ongoing. Instructions were given to arrange immediate treatment of the injured. I'm in constant contact with the district administration in this regard.”