CCTV footage from shortly before the collapse showed a group of young men taking pictures while others tried to swing the suspension bridge in Morbi from end to end, before falling into the river below as the cables gave way. The colonial-era bridge over the Machchhu River was packed with revelers when it collapsed on Sunday night, sending people plunging about 10 meters (33 feet) into the water. Ashwin Mehra, who was being treated for leg and back injuries, said he and six others had reached the shore by holding on to the bridge’s metal railings and netting. “There were about 15-20 boys aged between 20 and 25 who were shaking the bridge,” he said. “We heard some sounds three times and the sixth time the cable [of the bridge] suddenly it broke.” A senior police official said nine people, including management staff, ticketing officers and three security guards, were arrested for failing to regulate the crowds before the bridge collapsed. Two people who awarded a contract to repair the structure, built in 1877, were among those arrested, Ashok Kumar Yadav said. He said more arrests are likely. Shock and grief over the tragedy is mixed with anger from some of the dead’s loved ones and members of the opposition in the western state of Gujarat, where elections are expected early next year. “Not only very sad about the bridge collapse in Morbi, but also very angry. Because it was a tragedy in waiting,” tweeted Gurdeep Singh Chapal, a member of the Congress party. “For quite some time now, bridge collapses, road collapses, dam breaches have been happening quite often.” Local officials said Oreva, a watch and electrical goods company responsible for the bridge, had not informed authorities it would reopen last week after repairs, adding that no certificate of suitability for public use had been issued. Oreva did not respond to calls and text messages from Reuters. The Indian Express newspaper quoted an Oreva spokesman as saying: “While we await more information, prima facie, the bridge collapsed as too many people in the middle section of the bridge were trying to pull it from one way to the other. “ About 400 people had bought tickets to climb the bridge to celebrate Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals. About 35 victims were under the age of 14, according to a list of the dead seen by Reuters. About 170 people had been rescued by morning. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. “People were hanging from the bridge after the accident, but they slipped and fell into the river when it collapsed,” said Raju, a witness who gave only one name. “I couldn’t sleep all night as I had helped in the rescue operation. I brought many children to the hospital.” Narendrasinh Jadeja, whose friend lost seven members of his family, including four children, said: “I cannot express how angry and helpless I feel.” NK Muchhar, a senior government official, put the death toll at 134. Another official said the muddy waters of the river were hampering rescue efforts and that there may be people trapped under the remains of the bridge. Oreva, a Gujarat-based company, was responsible for the maintenance of the bridge for 15 years, said Sandeepsinh Zala, head of the Morbi municipality. “They didn’t give us any information that they were reopening the bridge,” Zala said. “We have not issued them any fitness certificate.” Jayrajsinh Jadeja, a local politician from Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, blamed Oreva for selling tickets without restrictions and said overcrowding led to the collapse. The bridge was previously maintained by the local municipality, which limited the number of people on the bridge at any one time to 20, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the small industrial town on Tuesday. Speaking at an event in Gujarat, Modi, the state’s former chief minister, offered his condolences to the families of the victims. “In this hour of grief, the government is with the bereaved families in every way,” he said. The bridge, which spanned 230 meters, connected the Darbargadh Palace Hotel to the city.
