Gujarat bridge collapse top updates: Toll mounts to 134, PM to visit Morbi tomorrow; Congress demands judicial probe

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a three-day tour to poll-bound Gujarat, will be visiting Morbi tomorrow in the wake of the collapse of suspension bridge over Machchhu river that has claimed 134 lives so far. 

"I am in Kevadia, but my heart goes out to those who died in the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy," the prime minister said as he got emotional. Troupes from across the country had come to Kevadia to perform traditional dances, but the programme was cancelled due to the present circumstances, he said.

Here are the top updates on the big story: 

The death toll has risen to 134 while the rescue operation, conducted by multiple agencies, is still underway. 

The state information department said five teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), six platoons of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), a team of the Air Force, two columns of the Army, and two teams of the Indian Navy apart from local rescue teams were involved in the operation that continued through Sunday night.

The 143-year-old bridge, a major tourist attraction, was visited by around 400-500 people and nearly 100 people fell into the river when the mishap took place. Eyewitnesses said there were several women and children on the British era “hanging bridge” when it snapped, plunging them into the water below.

Morbi Municipal Committee’s Chief Executive Officer S V Zala made a shocking revelation on Sunday that the bridge was opened for the public without a fitness certificate.

Zala, addressing the local media, said: "For a long period, this bridge was closed for the public... seven months ago, a private company was given contract for renovation and maintenance, and the bridge was reopened for the public on October 26 (Gujarati New year day) by the private company. The Nagar Palika has not issued a fitness certificate."

He even claimed that it is possible that the company might have got a fitness certificate from the engineering company, but it was not submitted to the municipality till date. The company, on its own and without informing the civic body, reopened the bridge for the public, he alleged.

A private operator had carried out the repair work of the bridge for nearly seven months before it was reopened for the public on the Gujarati New Year day on October 26. The bridge was reopened after a private inaugural event and was yet to receive the municipality's "fitness certificate," a civic official said.

The Congress has demanded a judicial inquiry into the accident to investigate its cause. “The responsibility of this tragic accident must be fixed and the guilty must be brought to book, only then can such incidents be prevented in the future,” a statement by the Congress party quoted Mallikarjun Kharge as saying. The Gujarat government, meanwhile, has appointed a five-member committee of bureaucrats and police officers to probe into the incident.