WESTERN INDIA – Nine people were arrested in India Monday in connection with Sunday’s deadly bridge collapse that was closed for renovation for almost 6 months and reopened just days ago.
The collapse of the just renovated 143-year-old suspension bridge has been dubbed “one of the worst accidents in India that has taken place in years.
Police in western India arrested nine people on Monday as they investigated the collapse of the bridge.
The collapse that took place on Sunday evening in Gujarat state has sent hundreds of people plunging into a river, killing at least 134.
The bridge’s operator, Oreva Group, and its staff have been taken in for investigation.
Gujarat authorities opened a case against Oreva for suspected culpable homicide, attempted culpable homicide and other violations.
In March, the local Morbi town government awarded a 15-year contract to maintain and manage the bridge to Oreva, a group of companies known mainly for making clocks, mosquito zappers and electric bikes.
The 232-metre-long bridge had been closed for repairs for almost six months and had reopened just four days earlier for the Gujarati New Year, a Hindu festival.
Authorities said the pedestrian bridge collapsed because it could not handle the weight of the large crowd, as the Hindu festival season drew hundreds of sightseers to the recently opened tourist attraction.
At least 177 survivors were pulled from the river and teams from the army, navy and air force were searching for others still missing, said Jigar Khunt, an information department official in Gujarat.
A witness and one of the survivors recounted the accident:
Sidik said he jumped into the water when the bridge began to crack and saw his friend being crushed by its metal carriageway.
He survived the disaster by climbing on the bridge and holding onto its cables, but his friend couldn’t make it.
“Everyone was crying for help, but one by one they all began disappearing in the water,” Sidik said.
It is believed that the bridge was reopened without having a safety clearance.
