The pedestrian Bridge Collapsed on Sunday days after it was opened for public. The bridge had been closed for renovation. Search and rescue operations on the river are ongoing.
Nine people have been arrested. They include two managers, two ticket clerks, two contractors and three security guards for negligence leading to the tragedy. They are employees of a firm which was contracted for maintenance of the bridge.
Senior police officer Ashok Kumar Yadav said the nine are being investigated for culpable homicide.
The firm has been accused of multiple lapses, including its alleged failure to get a fitness certificate from the municipality.
The 230m (754ft) bridge on the Machchu river was built during British rule in the 19th Century.The bridge was a major local tourist attraction – touted by the state’s tourism website as an “artistic and technological marvel” – and reopened only last week after being shut for months for repairs.
Reports indicate that hundreds of people were on the structure when it Collapsed. Scenes of chaos as people clung on to the wreckage to save their lives while others tried to swim to the banks of the river were seen on cctv footage.
The police reports on Monday indicated that a total of 135 have died from the incident with the rescue operations still on. Officials said that most of victims were women, children and elderly people.
At least 170 people have been rescued so far. A police official present at the site told the BBC that they would continue the search until everyone was accounted for.
The state government has announced a day of mourning in the state on Wednesday.
Authorities have promised a full investigation after questions were raised about whether safety checks were done before the bridge was reopened.
On Monday, two main crematoriums in the city were running full, even as a search for survivors continued. In cases where entire families were wiped out in the accident, locals took it upon themselves to perform their last rites.
