NEW DELHI (Reuters) – A suspension bridge in western India that collapsed on Sunday, killing at least 134 people, was built under British colonial rule and reopened only last week after repairs.
Here are some details about the bridge:
* It was built in 1877 in the town of Morbi in Gujarat state when the British ruled India. The site is about four hours by road from the state’s main city of Ahmedabad.
* The pedestrian bridge is 1.25 m (4.1 ft) wide and spans 233 m (255 yds) on the Machchhu river connecting the Darbargadh Palace heritage hotel and the town.
* Local authorities call the bridge an “engineering marvel” that was “built to give a unique identity to Morbi using the latest technology available in those days, in Europe”.
* Local authorities said the Oreva group, maker of Ajanta clocks and electrical products, was this year awarded a contract to maintain and manage the bridge for 15 years. It was reopened last week after months of renovation.
* Sandeepsinh Zala, chief officer of Morbi municipality, said Oreva did not inform authorities about reopening the bridge and had not been issued a fitness certificate to do so. Oreva officials did not respond to requests from Reuters for comment.
* An Oreva group spokesperson told the Indian Express: “While we are waiting for more information, prima facie, the bridge collapsed as too many people in the mid-section of the bridge were trying to sway it from one way to the other.”
* The bridge was earlier maintained by the local municipality, which used to limit the number of people on the bridge at one time to 20. Jayrajsinh Jadeja, a councillor of the ruling BJP party in Morbi, said that on Sunday 400 to 500 tickets were issued which led to overcrowding and the collapse.
* Footage from just before the collapse showed a group of young men taking photos while others tried to sway the bridge before they tumbled into the river as the metal cables gave way.
(Reporting by Sumit Khanna; Writing by Krishna N. Das; Editing by Tom Hogue)
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