Indian bridge collapse: 9 arrested, at least 134 dead

MORBI, India — At least 134 people were killed and many others were injured on Sunday after a century-old cable suspension bridge collapsed in a western part of India, authorities said.

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Dozens of people were critically injured when the bridge fell in the state of Gujarat, two government officials told Reuters.

The bridge spans the Machchhu River in the Morbi district, The Hindu newspaper reported.

Here are the latest updates:

9 people arrested and death toll reaches 134

Update 9:19 p.m. EDT Oct. 31: According to The Associated Press, the death toll rose by one to at least 134 people. Police arrested about nine people on Monday during their investigation into the bridge collapse.

According to the AP, Inspector-General Ashok Yadav said that police have created a special investigative team. Yadev also said that the people who were arrested included managers of the bridge’s operator, Oreva Group, and its staff.

Gujarat officials have opened a case against Oreva for “suspected culpable homicide, attempted culpable homicide and other violations,” according to the AP.

– Jessica Goodman, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Update 6:48 a.m. EDT Oct. 31: The death toll has risen to at least 133 after Sunday’s bridge collapse, The Associated Press reported early Monday.

State minister Harsh Sanghvi provided the updated number to reporters Monday, adding that many other victims were in critical condition at area hospitals, according to the news agency. Teenagers, women and the elderly made up the majority of the victims, he said.

Emergency crews continued to search for survivors overnight, the AP reported.

– Michelle Ewing, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Death toll jumps to 132

Update 10:37 p.m. EDT Oct. 30: State minister Harsh Sanghvi told reporters on Monday that the death toll has climbed to at least 132.

Sanghvi said emergency responders and rescuers worked through the night to search for survivors. Teams from the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force have been dispatched to help with the rescue, according to The Associated Press.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in his home state of Gujarat on a three-day visit, said he was “deeply saddened by the tragedy.”

- Jeff MacDonald, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Death toll revised to 70

Update 5:49 p.m. EDT Oct. 30: The New York Times reported that the death toll has risen to at least 70, citing local officials.

About 350 people were on and around the bridge, a major tourist attraction that was built in 1880, at the time of the collapse, according to Brijesh Merja, a minister in the Gujarat government. Officials said that a majority of the people who died were children, women and older people.

Death toll climbs to 60

Update 1:58 p.m. EDT Oct. 30: Officials in India said the death toll after a suspension bridge collapsed into a river in the western portion of the country has risen to at least 60 people, The New York Times reported.

Television footage showed dozens of people clinging to the bridge’s cables and remains as emergency teams worked to rescue them, The Guardian reported.

Original report: According to reports, up to 400 people were on the bridge when it collapsed, according to the BBC. Video taken at the scene purportedly showed people hanging off the partly submerged bridge, the news outlet reported.

The historic bridge, built during the 19th century when India was a British colony, had been closed for renovation for six months and reopened to the public last week, Reuters reported.

The bridge collapsed after it was unable to handle the number of people on it, The Associated Press reported.

According to The Indian Press, state minister Brijesh Merja said earlier that “due to the bridge collapse, several people fell into the river. A rescue operation is underway.”

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