Morbi Bridge Collapse: Death Toll Rises To 134. Criminal Case Registered, Says Gujarat Home Minister

Sanghavi also informed that a high power committee has been constituted by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel while leaving from Ahmedabad. 

Rescue operation is underway after an old suspension bridge over the Machchhu river collapsed, in the Morbi district, early Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: The death toll rose to 134 after a nearly century-old suspension bridge collapsed in Gujarat’s Morbi city on Sunday evening,  Rajkot range Inspector General Ashok Yadav told ABP News.  No report of anyone missing now and the search and rescue operation will be completed by today evening, he added. State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi during a media briefing earlier this morning said that a criminal case has been registered against the agency which looked after the operation of the bridge and “investigation has begun today under the leadership of Range Inspector General of Police.”  

“132 deaths have been reported so far,” he added. 

Sanghavi also informed that a high power committee has been constituted by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel while leaving Ahmedabad. 

“All officers posted at different locations were asked to report at Morbi by 2 am. The investigation is going on,” he said. 

132 deaths have been reported so far: Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi briefs on #MorbiBridgeCollapse pic.twitter.com/wIvQkAGr1z

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2022

A criminal case has been registered. An investigation has begun today under the leadership of Range IGP: Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi on #MorbiBridgeCollapse pic.twitter.com/pgcZPII6XN

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2022

“Everyone worked all through the night. The Navy, NDRF, Air Force and Army reached quickly. More than 200 persons have worked the entire night for search and rescue operations,” Sanghvi added. 

On Sunday night, CM Patel reached Morbi and took stock of the rescue operations. The CM will today again visit the incident site and review the situation. 

Patel, along with Sanghavi, had reached the river bank on Sunday night and took details about the ongoing rescue operation from the officials, a state government release had said.

The more than a century-old bridge over river Machchu, which had reopened on October 26 after extensive repairs and renovation, collapsed around 6.30 pm on Sunday when it was crammed with people, officials said as reported by news agency PTI.