Morbi bridge collapse: India PM Modi to visit site

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is acceptable to sojourn Morbi territory successful the occidental authorities of Gujarat wherever a span illness has killed 141 people.

The 140-year-old pedestrian span collapsed into the Machuchu stream connected Sunday, days aft it reopened aft being unopen for repairs.

Search and rescue operations connected the stream person resumed connected Tuesday.

Nine radical person been arrested. They see employees of a steadfast contracted to support the bridge.

The 230m (754ft) span connected the Machchu stream was built during British regularisation successful the 19th Century. The span was a large section tourer attraction and reopened lone past week aft being unopen for months for repairs.

Reports said that respective 100 radical were connected the span erstwhile it collapsed astatine astir 18:40 India clip (13:10 GMT) connected Sunday.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos arsenic radical clung connected to the wreckage, waiting for rescue teams to prevention them. Others tried to aquatics to the banks of the river.

Officials said that galore among the victims were women, children and aged people.

Police, subject and catastrophe effect teams were deployed to transportation retired rescue operations portion hundreds of locals excessively joined successful the hunt for survivors.

Gujarat is the location authorities of Mr Modi, who has announced compensation for the families of victims. He said helium was "deeply saddened by the tragedy".

Authorities person promised a afloat investigation. Questions are being raised astir whether information checks were done earlier the span was reopened.

Police investigating the catastrophe accidental the 9 radical arrested are each associated with Oreva group, the steadfast contracted to support and run the bridge.

They see 2 managers, 2 summons clerks, 2 contractors and 3 information guards for negligence starring to the tragedy.

They are being investigated for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, elder constabulary serviceman Ashok Kumar Yadav said.

The steadfast has been accused of aggregate lapses, including its alleged nonaccomplishment to get a fittingness certificate from the municipality.