Nearly 150 dead: several youth were dancing and shaking the Morbi bridge before its collapse

MORBI, GUJARAT: Groups of several youth on the Morbi bridge were dancing and shaking the bridge intentionally as though it was a swing, even as nearly 400 people stood on it, minutes before its collapse.

A video which is doing the rounds on social media, clearly shows 2-3 groups of about 10-12 youth in each group, holding hands and forcing the bridge to sway side to side. They were also seen kicking the cables holding the bridge in place. We have not been able to verify the authenticity of the video, but it seems to be genuine.

Nearly 150 persons are reported dead as of 11 am on Monday morning. Hundreds more are injured and some of the injured who are admitted to various hospitals may not survive their injuries, taking the death toll higher. Many people are missing and their bodies are yet to be found, reports said.

The bridge was opened to the public by the private contractor four days earlier on 26th October (Gujarati New Year), without a fitness certificate from the Morbi municipality.

The nearly century-old suspension bridge on the Machchhu river collapsed around 6.30 pm Sunday, owing to too many people on it following its reopening just four days ago after renovation. According to estimates, nearly 470 to 500 people were on the bridge when it broke and collapsed.

A private operator had carried out the repair work of the bridge for nearly six months before it was reopened to the public on the Gujarati New Year day celebrated on October 26. (READ THE LATEST UPDATES ON MORBI BRIDGE COLLAPSE HERE)