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Morbi bridge collapse: India PM Modi to visit site Morbi bridge collapse: India PM Modi to visit site
(about 1 hour later)
The bridge collapse in Gujarat killed more than 100 peopleThe bridge collapse in Gujarat killed more than 100 people
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Morbi district in the western state of Gujarat where a bridge collapse has killed 141 people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Morbi district in India's western state of Gujarat where a bridge collapse has killed more than a hundred people in one of the worst accidents in years.
The 140-year-old pedestrian bridge collapsed into the Machuchu river on Sunday, days after it reopened after being shut for repairs. The colonial-era bridge collapsed into the Machchu river on Sunday, days after it reopened after repairs.
Search and rescue operations on the river have resumed on Tuesday. Search and rescue operations on the river resumed on Tuesday.
Nine people have been arrested. They include employees of a firm contracted to maintain the bridge. Nine people, including employees of a firm contracted to maintain the bridge, have been arrested.
The 230m (754ft) bridge on the Machchu river was built during British rule in the 19th Century. The bridge was a major local tourist attraction and reopened only last week after being shut for months for repairs. The 230m (754ft) bridge on the Machchu river was built during British rule in the 19th Century.
Reports said that several hundred people were on the bridge when it collapsed at around 18:40 India time (13:10 GMT) on Sunday. The bridge was a major local tourist attraction - touted by the state's tourism website as an "artistic and technological marvel" - and reopened only last week after being shut for months for repairs.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as people clung on to the wreckage, waiting for rescue teams to save them. Others tried to swim to the banks of the river.
Officials said that many among the victims were women, children and elderly people.
Police, military and disaster response teams were deployed to carry out rescue operations while hundreds of locals too joined in the search for survivors.
'I survived but my sister is still missing''I survived but my sister is still missing'
The brothers who died in the Indian bridge disaster
Reports said that several hundred people were on the structure when it collapsed at around 18:40 India time (13:10 GMT) on Sunday.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as people clung on to the wreckage, waiting for rescue teams to save them.
Some tried to swim to the banks of the river and managed to survive but many others were swept away by the fast-moving water.
Rescue work on the river resumed on Tuesday morning
The police on Monday said at least 141 people had been killed, but later revised that number to 135, without giving a reason for the updated toll.
Officials said that most of victims were women, children and elderly people.
On Monday, teams of disaster response workers and Indian military scoured the river in small boats, paddling through its muddy waters and the mangrove shrubs in search of the missing. Hundreds of locals too joined in the efforts, while distressed relatives searched for their loved ones.
By evening, the rescuers had managed to recover 134 bodies. Search operations were paused for the night but resumed on Tuesday, with platoons of rescuers reaching the spot early morning.
A police official present at the site told the BBC that they would continue the search until everyone was accounted for.
Gujarat is the home state of Mr Modi, who has announced compensation for the families of victims. He said he was "deeply saddened by the tragedy".Gujarat is the home state of Mr Modi, who has announced compensation for the families of victims. He said he was "deeply saddened by the tragedy".
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Morbi district on Tuesday Ahead of Mr Modi's visit to Morbi, the state government has announced a day of state-wide mourning on Wednesday.
Authorities have promised a full investigation. Questions are being raised about whether safety checks were done before the bridge was reopened. Funerals for some of the victims have been taking place in Morbi
Authorities have promised a full investigation after questions were raised about whether safety checks were done before the bridge was reopened.
Reports say the bridge had been reopened without a "fitness certificate" or the authorities' permission.
Police investigating the disaster say the nine people arrested are all associated with Oreva group, the firm contracted to maintain and operate the bridge.Police investigating the disaster say the nine people arrested are all associated with Oreva group, the firm contracted to maintain and operate the bridge.
They include two managers, two ticket clerks, two contractors and three security guards for negligence leading to the tragedy.They include two managers, two ticket clerks, two contractors and three security guards for negligence leading to the tragedy.
They are being investigated for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, senior police officer Ashok Kumar Yadav said.They are being investigated for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, senior police officer Ashok Kumar Yadav said.
The firm has been accused of multiple lapses, including its alleged failure to get a fitness certificate from the municipality.The firm has been accused of multiple lapses, including its alleged failure to get a fitness certificate from the municipality.
Oreva has not responded to questions about the collapse. Some are asking if top-level managers in the company will also be investigated.
The tragedy - the worst in the country in many years - has devastated the people of Morbi, a quaint little town in Gujarat, known for its thriving ceramic industry.