141 persons, majority of them children, women and senior citizens have died so far in the British era 140 years old swinging bridge that went down on Sunday at 6.40 PM on which about four to five hundred were loaded. The swinging cable bridge built during British time was repaired just six days ago after being closed for six months for renovation. The bridge had the bearing capacity of 100 to 150 persons at the most but yesterday being Sunday and festival days the heavy rush resulted in this horrible tragedy.
Entire Morbi and Gujarat is in the stage of shock after this tragedy that occured after the swinging bridge broke down with 500 persons on board. The river on which this bridge was built is known as Machchu river and fitness certificate was not granted to the trust operating this bridge.
The prime minister Narendra Modi and Home minister Amit Shah has expressed their deepest condolences on this tragedy and deputed NDRF n SDRF including ambulances, doctors and heavy equipments in relief and rescue operations. So far 177 people have been rescued. There have been total choas at crematorium in Morbi to cremate ( consigning to flames) about 141 dead bodies in extremely mutilated conditions. According to Gujarat home minister Harsh Sanghavi a criminal case has been registered under severe IPC sections amd a high powered five member committee is probing the bridge collapse. The cases have been registered under the charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and intentional act causing death against whoever is found responsible he said.
