Bridge deliberately shaken, narrowly avoiding accident for Gujarat family

In the heart of Gujarat, the picturesque town of Morbi was plunged into mourning on Sunday evening, as a popular tourist attraction, the British-era bridge, collapsed around 6.30 pm. The incident, which left at least 90 individuals dead and numerous others injured, has sent shockwaves across the region.

The bridge, a historical landmark, had reopened for the public just four days prior to the incident. The event was announced by the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel. However, the celebration was short-lived as the bridge caved in suddenly, causing many individuals to fall.

Reports suggest that there was a significant crowd on the bridge at the time of the collapse, including many children. A local resident reported that almost 300 people were on the bridge, and many of them were children. The sudden collapse of the bridge resulted in a chaotic scene, with individuals rushing to help those who fell under the river.

Rescue efforts were hindered due to the lack of light at night. Despite this, residents rushed to the spot immediately after the collapse and pulled out many individuals alive. Among those who joined the local rescue teams was Kanti Amrutiya, the previous BJP MLA of Morbi.

Vijay Goswami and his relative returned from the bridge midway due to anxiety, as some youths in their group started shaking it. Mr. Goswami later claimed he had informed the bridge team about the unsafe conditions, but they were unresponsive.

The bridge collapse has reopened the wounds of the Machchhu dam disaster of 1979, another tragic event that left a deep mark on the town of Morbi. The incident has been described as the first major event for Morbi since the dam breach incident.

A 10-year-old survivor stated that his father and mother are still missing after the bridge collapse. Mehul Raval, another survivor, reported that there were nearly 300 people on the bridge when it collapsed.

In a heart-wrenching testament to the human spirit, many individuals residing in various parts of Morbi rushed to help those who fell under the river after the bridge collapse. The event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safety and maintenance of public infrastructure.

The investigation into the cause of the bridge collapse is ongoing, and the community of Morbi continues to grieve and support each other in this difficult time.