The Greek foreign ministry expressed "heartfelt condolences" and "solidarity" to India after a bridge collapse in Morbi left at least 134 people killed.
"Heartfelt condolences to the families who lost loved ones at the bridge collapse in Morbi, Gujarat, India. We express our wishes for the swift rescue of the missing and speedy recovery to the injured," the foreign minister wrote on Twitter.
"At this time of sorrow, Greece stands in solidarity with the people and government of India," the statement added.
Heartfelt condolences to the families who lost loved ones at the bridge collapse in Morbi,Gujarat, #India. We express our wishes for the swift rescue of the missing&speedy recovery to the injured. At this time of sorrow, #Greece stands in solidarity w/ the people & Gov’t of India pic.twitter.com/jqExYNWADA
— Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών (@GreeceMFA) October 31, 2022
The death toll has risen to 134 after a suspension bridge collapsed in India’s western state of Gujarat on Sunday, as authorities revealed the structure had only recently reopened following repairs.
Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said Monday some 200 people are estimated to have been on the bridge in the town of Morbi when it collapsed into the river below on Sunday evening. A cable at one end appears to have snapped, he added.
The state of Gujarat has lodged a criminal complaint against the agency that was handling the maintenance of the 230-metre long bridge, which was built in the 19th century and reopened last week after renovations, he said.
Photos from the scene Monday showed people gathering on the bank of the river Machchhu beside the mangled metal walkway, which hung at a sharp angle into the water, where rescue workers in inflatable dinghies searched for survivors.
A five-person special investigation committee has been established to investigate the incident, Sanghavi said, amid an ongoing search and rescue operation by hundreds of personnel from state and national disaster relief teams and the Indian military.
Speaking at a news conference in the early hours of Monday, Sanghavi did not say how many people are missing, but social media video showed dozens in the water following the collapse of the bridge.
TV footage showed people holding the cables and remains of the bridge as emergency teams tried to reach them, Reuters reported. Some climbed up the wrecked structure to reach the river banks, while others swam to safety.
Children were among those killed, MP Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya told Indian broadcaster NDTV.
Speaking later on Monday, senior police official Ashok Yadav said seven of the injured are still in hospital, while 56 people have been discharged after receiving treatment.
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