More than 140 people were killed and dozens more injured in the collapse of a 230-meter suspension bridge in western India on Sunday evening. Surveillance camera footage (see above) now shows the moment when the ropes of the pedestrian bridge tore and it collapsed.
The video shows how shortly before the collapse, countless people jumped and jumped on the bridge, which was only 1.25 meters wide, and how it moved back and forth accordingly. An eyewitness told local television station NDTV that the bridge swayed so much that you couldn’t stand without holding on. He and his family therefore quickly left the bridge. He said no one tried to control the crowd.
More than 170 people rescued from river
Most of the victims were women, children and the elderly. At least 177 people have been rescued from the Machchhu River flooding. Photos and videos show many people in the water clinging to parts of the bridge, screaming and rescue teams on boats coming towards them. Many Indians cannot swim.
The accident happened in Morbi, Gujarat state. The bridge dates back to the 19th century, when India was a British colony. Local authorities call the bridge a “miracle of engineering” on their website. At the time of construction, the latest technology available in Europe at the time was used.
Only opened a few days after renovation
Last week, the pedestrian bridge was reopened by a private company after months of renovation work. It was also popular with local tourists. On Sunday it attracted a particularly large number of visitors in view of some important Hindu festival days. Among other things, the festival Chhath Puja was celebrated, where a sun god is worshipped. So many people were in a party mood.
Too many people on the bridge at once?
It was initially unclear why the bridge collapsed and appropriate investigations were announced. According to media reports, the construction may not have withstood the load of the many people. The Hindustan Times reported that there were significantly more people on the bridge than had bought tickets to enter. A guard couldn’t stop her.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
