The death of 135 people when a cable-stayed bridge collapsed in India’s western state of Gujarat is one of the worst public safety tragedies to hit the country in recent years.
As authorities investigate the incident, questions have been raised about how the narrow walkway collapsed and the role of an electrical company tasked with maintaining the colonial-era structure, which reopened to the public only last week after repairs .
Here’s what we know.
About 200 people were estimated to be on the Machchhu River Bridge in Morbi town when it collapsed into the water below on October 30 around 6:30 pm. local time, according to Gujarat authorities.
At least 30 children were among the 135 dead, officials said. It is unclear how many people are still missing, and authorities have not released details of the injured.
A 36-second video clip shared by the Morbi Regional Command via CNN affiliate News-18 shows a large crowd of young men gathered on the bridge in the moments before the collapse.
The video appears to show some of the men rocking the bridge from side to side before the structure gives way, plunging the people standing on it into the river.
Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said on October 31 that a cable appeared to have snapped.
Photos from the aftermath show people gathering on the riverbank next to the warped metal walkway, which hung at a sharp angle into the water.
Survivors and witnesses to the killing described scenes of chaos.
“People were hanging from the bridge after the accident, but they slipped and fell into the river when it collapsed,” Raju, a witness who gave only one name, told Reuters. “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 family members, including four children, told Reuters: “I cannot express how angry and helpless I feel.”
The Morbi Suspension Bridge was built during British rule around 1900 and is 230 meters (755 feet) long and only 1.25 meters (4 feet) wide.
For decades, it has been a popular tourist attraction in the riverside town, whose cobbled streets bear the architectural legacy of colonial rule.
The bridge was closed for six months of renovation in April, according to the managing director of Oreva, a Gujarat-based electrical appliance maker that oversaw the maintenance work.
The video shows people clinging to the debris after the fatal bridge crash
At a reopening ceremony on Oct. 26, the CEO told reporters the structure would not need any major work for “eight to 10 years,” according to a video of the event posted on social media.
A five-member special inquiry committee has been set up to probe the incident, Gujarat Home Minister Sanghavi said on 31 October.
Search and recovery operations by hundreds of personnel from state and national disaster relief teams and the Indian Army remain ongoing.
Nine people have been arrested and are being investigated on culpable homicide charges, state police said on Oct. 31. All suspects are linked to Oreva.
They include two managers, two ticket clerks, two contractors and three security guards, according to senior police officer Ashok Kumar Yadav.
After the fatal incident, public scrutiny turned to Oreva, a company based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s largest city.
Oreva started as a watchmaker before diversifying into electronics, according to its website, which describes the company as the “world’s largest watchmaker” and “one of the largest brands in India.”
CNN has reached out to Oreva several times, but has not heard back.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the scene of the fatal collapse in Morbi on 1 November.
After an aerial survey of the area, he was seen taking stock of the ongoing rescue efforts as he stood at one end of the collapsed suspension bridge.
“He went to Morbi, which witnessed the horrible bridge accident. He met the families of the deceased and expressed his condolences. I visited the site of the tragedy and went to the hospital where the injured are recovering,” Modi tweeted after visiting a local hospital.
The Indian leader added that he met the personnel involved in the rescue operations and chaired a review meeting.
The Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office tweeted that Modi had “assured them of all possible help from the government”.
Search and recovery operations continued on Tuesday as divers swept the area for bodies.
The families of the victims will get compensation from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, Modi said earlier.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said the state government would provide compensation of about $5,000 per family of the deceased and about $600 for the injured.
The cremation of the victims is expected to begin on November 1.
World leaders paid tribute to the victims and their families in the wake of the tragedy.
US President Joe Biden sent his condolences to those who lost loved ones during the collapse.
“Today, our hearts are with India. Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the bridge collapse and join the people of Gujarat in mourning the loss of so many lives cut short,” Biden said in a statement on Monday.
“The United States and India are indispensable partners, with deep ties between our citizens. In this difficult time, we will continue to stand by and support the Indian people.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping also expressed his sympathy for Modi, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.
“On behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, I would like to express our deepest condolences to the victims and express our sincere condolences to their families and the injured,” Xi said, according to CCTV.
