The historic Jhulta bridge (cable bridge) on the Machhu river collapsed and 132 people died as people climbed five times the capacity in Gujarat’s Morbi. The pool had a capacity of 100 people, but according to eyewitnesses, there were about 500 people at the time of the accident. Among the dead, 50 are women and children.
According to the Director General of Police Ashish Bhatia, around 60 are missing and 30 are injured. 17 injured have been admitted to the hospital. The death toll may also increase. Three teams of NDRF and three parts of the army are engaged in the rescue. Air Force plane Garuda reached for help. The state government has constituted a five-member special investigation team to probe the accident. Officials said water is being removed from the pumps to remove the bodies buried in the mud underwater. To take people to the hospital, people kept the crowd away by forming a human chain. This enabled the smooth movement of ambulances and rescue teams. State Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi told that the bridge was closed for 6 months. After repairs, it was reopened on 26 October.
This cable suspension bridge of Morbi is more than 140 years old. The length is about 765 feet. The bridge was inaugurated in 1879 by the Governor of Mumbai, Richard Temple. Then its cost was Rs 3.5 lakh. All the materials for building the bridge came from England itself.