What we know about India's deadly bridge collapse - CNN

CNN  — 

The deaths of 135 radical successful the collapse of a cablegram suspension bridge successful India’s occidental authorities of Gujarat is 1 of the worst nationalist information tragedies to deed the state successful caller years.

As authorities analyse the incident, questions person been raised astir however the constrictive walkway collapsed and the relation of an electrical manufacturing institution tasked with maintaining the colonial-era structure, which lone reopened to the nationalist past week aft repairs.

Here’s what we know.

Some 200 radical are estimated to person been connected the span crossed the Machchhu River successful the municipality of Morbi erstwhile it collapsed into the h2o beneath connected October 30 astatine astir 6:30 p.m. section time, according to Gujarat authorities.

At slightest 30 children were among the 135 killed, officials said. It is unclear however galore radical stay missing and authorities person not released a fig for those injured.

A 36-second video clip shared by the Morbi District Administration via CNN affiliate News-18 shows a ample assemblage of young men gathered connected the span successful the moments earlier it collapsed.

The video appears to amusement immoderate of the men shaking the span from broadside to broadside earlier the operation gives way, plunging the radical lasting connected it into the river.

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said connected October 31 that a cablegram appeared to person snapped.

Photos from the aftermath amusement radical gathering connected the riverbank beside the mangled metallic walkway, which hung astatine a crisp space into the water.

Survivors and witnesses of the deadly incidental described scenes of chaos.

“People were hanging from the span aft the accident, but they slipped and fell into the stream erstwhile it collapsed,” Raju, a witnesser who gave lone 1 name, told Reuters. “I could not slumber the full nighttime arsenic I had helped successful the rescue operation. I brought a batch of children to the hospital.”

Narendrasinh Jadeja, whose person mislaid 7 members of his family, including 4 children, told Reuters: “I cannot explicit however aggravated and helpless I americium feeling.”

The Morbi Suspension Bridge was built during British regularisation astir 1900 and is 230 meters (755 feet) agelong and conscionable 1.25 meters (4 feet) wide.

For decades, it’s been a fashionable tourer attraction successful the riverside town, whose cobblestone streets transportation the architectural bequest of assemblage rule.

The span was closed for six months of renovations successful April, according to the managing manager of Oreva, a Gujarat-based electrical appliances shaper that oversaw the attraction work.

At a reopening ceremonial connected October 26, the managing manager told reporters the operation would not request immoderate large enactment for “eight to 10 years,” according to a video of the lawsuit posted to societal media.

A five-person peculiar probe committee has been established to analyse the incident, Gujarat Home Minister Sanghavi said connected October 31.

Search and betterment operations by hundreds of unit from authorities and nationalist catastrophe alleviation teams and the Indian subject stay ongoing.

Nine radical person been arrested and are being investigated for culpable homicide charges, authorities constabulary said connected October 31. All of the suspects are associated with Oreva.

They see 2 managers, 2 summons clerks, 2 contractors and 3 information guards, according to elder constabulary serviceman Ashok Kumar Yadav.

Since the deadly incident, nationalist scrutiny has turned to Oreva, a institution based successful Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s largest city.

Oreva started retired arsenic a clockmaker earlier diversifying into electronics, according to its website, which describes the steadfast arsenic the “World’s Largest Clock Manufacturing Company” and “one of the Major Brands successful India.”

CNN has reached retired to Oreva respective times, but has not received a response.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived astatine the tract of the fatal illness successful Morbi connected November 1.

Following an aerial survey of the area, helium was seen taking banal of rescue efforts underway arsenic helium stood astatine 1 extremity of the collapsed suspension bridge.

“Went to Morbi, which witnessed the horrific span mishap. Met the bereaved families and extended condolences. I visited the tract of the calamity and went to the infirmary wherever the injured are recovering,” Modi tweeted aft visiting a section hospital.

The Indian person added that helium met unit progressive with rescue operations and chaired a reappraisal meeting.

The Chief Minister’s Office of Gujarat tweeted that Modi had “assured them of each imaginable assistance from the government.”

Search and betterment operations continued connected Tuesday arsenic divers scanned the country for bodies.

Families of the victims volition person compensation from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, Modi said earlier.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said the authorities authorities would supply the equivalent of astir $5,000 successful compensation per household of the deceased and astir $600 each for the injured.

Cremations of the victims are expected to statesman connected November 1.

World leaders person paid tribute to the victims and their families successful the aftermath of the tragedy.

US President Joe Biden sent his condolences to those who mislaid loved ones during the collapse.

“Today, our hearts are with India. Jill and I nonstop our deepest condolences to the families who mislaid loved ones during the span illness and articulation the radical of Gujarat successful mourning the nonaccomplishment of excessively galore lives chopped short,” Biden said successful a connection Monday.

“The United States and India are indispensable partners, with heavy bonds betwixt our citizens. In this hard hour, we volition proceed to basal with and enactment the Indian people.”

China’s President Xi Jinping besides expressed his sympathies to Modi, Chinese authorities broadcaster CCTV reported.

“On behalf of the Chinese authorities and the Chinese people, I would similar to explicit our heavy condolences to the victims and widen our sincere sympathy to their families and the injured,” Xi said, according to CCTV.