“NO CERTIFICATE”
Authorities launched a rescue operation immediately following the collapse, with boats and divers searching the river all night and throughout Monday.
The bridge, 233m long and 1.5m wide, was inaugurated in 1880 by British colonial authorities and made with materials shipped from England, reports said.
The Gujarat tourist department describes the “grand suspension bridge” about 200km west of the state’s main city, Ahmedabad, as an “artistic and technological marvel”.
Sandeepsinh Jhala, Morbi municipality’s chief officer, said the bridge had not been issued a safety certificate after the recent repair work.
Reports named the firm that carried out the repairs as a unit of the Gujarat-based Oreva group, which describes itself as the world’s largest clock manufacturer, and also makes lighting products and e-bikes. The company could not immediately be reached for comment.
Modi, who was due to visit the site on Tuesday, said that he “may rarely have experienced so much pain in my life”.
Moscow and New Delhi have enjoyed close relations for decades and the Kremlin said in a statement that Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences.
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he was “deeply saddened” while Nepal, Bhutan, Britain and France also sent messages of support.
Accidents from old and poorly maintained infrastructure, including bridges, are common in India.
In 2016, the collapse of a flyover onto a busy street in Kolkata killed at least 26 people.
Five years earlier, at least 32 people perished when a packed bridge collapsed in the hill resort of Darjeeling.
Read the full article here
