India bridge collapse death toll rises to 141

The death toll from Sunday’s (Oct 30) suspension bridge collapse in western India climbed to 141 yesterday afternoon.

Rescue teams from the national disaster response agency and the military were looking for the missing in the Machchhu river.

About 400 people, including women and children, were on the British-era bridge in Morbi city, Gujarat state. The bridge collapsed on Sunday evening.

More than 170 people were rescued from the site, according to local media reports.

“The rescue operation is in its last stage in the Machchhu river. It will be over soon,” said Gujarat’s minister of state for home Harsh Sanghavi, according to a report.

The 232m-long pedestrian bridge, a local tourist spot, reopened just four days prior, on Oct 26, after seven months of renovation work.

- Bernama