90 feared dead as footbridge in Gujarat collapses days after repair

古吉拉特邦吊桥修复几天后坍塌，恐有90人丧生

RAJKOT: At least 90 people were feared dead and scores injured when a just-renovated 140-year-old suspension bridge over the algae-lined Machchhu river in Gujarat’s Morbi collapsed Sunday evening under the weight of an estimated 400-strong holiday crowd, barely five days after the structure had been reopened to the public. The death toll could exceed 100, sources said.

Morbi MLA and minister of state Brijesh Merja confirmed 60-odd deaths as the prospect of finding survivors appeared to dim around 10.30pm, almost four hours after the bridge came down in a cacophony of snap iron cables and horrified screams. Officials said the tragedy occurred between 6.30 and 7pm.

周日晚上，古吉拉特邦莫尔比绿藻密布的马赫胡河上一座有着140年历史的悬索桥，因不堪400多名假日游人的重负而发生倒塌，恐有至少90人死亡，另有数十人受伤。发生事故时，这座吊桥仅对公众重新开放5日。消息人士称，死亡人数可能超过100人。

莫尔比议员和国务部长布里吉什·梅里亚晚上10点30分左右证实事故已造成60多人死亡，寻找幸存者的希望已越发渺茫，大约四个小时前，大桥在断裂的铁索声和恐怖的尖叫声中倒塌。官方称悲剧发生在晚上6点30分到7点之间。

Rajkot Lok Sabha MP Mohan Kundariya, who lives in Morbi, confirmed to TOI that around 50 bodies had been fished out of the river and 100-odd injured survivors shifted to various hospitals. "The thick layer of algae is making the search operation a daunting task in the dark,” he said.

A team of Garuda commandos from the IAF left from Jamnagar to assist in the operation that was underway till late in the night. “Medical ambulances and doctors from nearby districts have rushed to Morbi to provide maxmum care for the injured,” Merja said.

Minister of state for roads and buildings Jagdish Panchal said it was possible the British-era bridge collapsed due to overloading, given the fact that not less than 400 tickets had been issued to visitors in that period. “Prima facie, it is suspected there were more people on the bridge than its capacity.”

住在莫尔比的印度联邦院议员莫汉·昆达利亚向《印度时报》证实，已从河中打捞出大约50具尸体，还有100多名受伤幸存者被送往各家医院。他说：“厚厚的水藻让夜间搜救行动开展得十分艰难。”

一队来自印度空军的神鸟突击队从贾姆纳加尔出发，协助这次一直持续到深夜的搜救行动。梅里亚说:“救护车和附近地区的医生都已经赶到莫尔比，为伤者提供最大限度的治疗。”

分管道路和建筑的国务部长贾格迪什·潘查尔说，这座英国殖民时期建造的吊桥可能是由于超载而倒塌的，当天那个时段吊桥向游客售出了400多张门票。“初步证据显示，桥上的人群可能超过了容载量。”

The state government constituted a five-member committee to probe the reason for the bridge collapse.

BN Bhatt, a local resident who possibly made the first call to the helpline 108 for emergency ambulance services, estimated that there were 500 people on the bridge when it gave way. “I counted more than 60 people being taken unconscious to hospital,” he said.

Gujarat DGP Ashish Bhatia said many people were seen hanging from the bridge when the rescue effort began.

古吉拉特邦政府成立了五人委员会来调查桥梁倒塌的原因。

当地居民巴哈特可能是第一个拨打108急救电话的人。他估计，吊桥倒塌时桥上有500人。他说：“我数了数，有60多人不省人事，被送往医院。”

古吉拉特邦总检察长阿希士·巴蒂亚说，救援行动开始时，还有很多人吊在桥上。

Besides National Disaster Response Force teams, the Army was also called in. Six boats, as many ambulances and two rescue vans were rushed from Rajkot to Morbi. A total of 25 EMRI ambulances were at the spot to take patients to Morbi Civil Hospital, collector GT Pandya said.

PM Narendra Modi announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the national relief fund to each of the families of the victims and Rs 50,000 each to the injured. CM Bhupendra Patel, who cancelled all his engagements to reach Morbi, announced Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for the injured.

PM Modi tweeted in Gujarati, “I am deeply saddened by the tragedy at Morbi. Talked to Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel and other officials about this. Relief and rescue operations are going on in full swing and all necessary assistance is being provided to the affected.”

除了国家灾害应急部队外，陆军也参与了搜救行动。六艘船，六辆救护车和两辆救援车从拉杰果德赶往莫尔比。调派员潘迪亚称，现场共有25辆救护车，负责将病人送往莫尔比市民医院。

总理纳伦德拉·莫迪宣布通过国家救援基金中向每位遇难者家属提供20万卢比赔偿，向每位伤者提供5万卢比援金。首席部长布彭德拉·帕特尔取消了前往莫尔比的所有安排，宣布向死者亲属提供40万卢比，向伤者每人提供5万卢比。

莫迪总理在古吉拉特邦发推特称：“我对发生在莫尔比的惨剧深感悲痛。我已和古吉拉特邦首席部长布彭德拉·帕特尔及其他官员就此事故进行过会谈。救援行动正在如火如荼地进行，向受灾群众提供所有必要的援助。”

President Droupadi Murmu condoled the deaths from her official Twitter handle. “The tragedy in Morbi, Gujarat has left me worried. My thoughts and prayers are with the affected people. Relief and rescue efforts will bring succour to the victims,” she wrote.

The 1.25m wide and 233m long bridge suspension structure near Mani Mandir had been closed for six months to complete a Rs 2-crore renovation. The bridge, built on a budget of Rs 3.5 lakh, had been inaugurated on February 20, 1879, by the then Mumbai governor Richard Temple. All the material required for the structure – meant to connect Darbargarh, the official residence of the erstwhile Royal family of Morbi, to Nazarbagh – was shipped from England.

总统德劳帕迪·穆尔穆在她的官方推特上对遇难者表示哀悼。“发生在古吉拉特邦莫尔比的惨剧令我揪心。我的牵挂和祈祷与受难者同在。将为受害者提供帮助和救助。”

这座1.25米宽、233米长的悬索桥位于曼尼曼迪尔附近，曾关闭6个月，耗资2亿卢比进行翻修工程。这座桥的造价为35万卢比，于1879年2月20日由时任孟买总督的理查德·坦普尔主持落成典礼。这座吊桥是为了连接前莫尔比王室的官邸巴尔加尔和纳扎尔巴格而建造的，所需建筑材料都来自英国。

以下是印度时报读者的评论：

Nutz Nutz•44019•5 hours ago

bridge wasn't weak. there were too many people on the bridge... rupees are not falling The dollar is strenghthirng .. 15 years of Modi and 8 years of double engine but they couldn't replace a 140 year old bridge to give a safe passage for common people . they have 50 crore to buy each MLA but only 2 lakh to compensate for life for common people

桥本身还算牢固。但桥上的人太多了。卢比没有下跌，而是美元在走强。莫迪任职15年，都无法换掉这座140年的老桥，为普通民众提供安全的通道。他们能花5亿卢比收买议会席位，却只给20万卢比来赔偿普通民众的一条命。

Sash•6431• Nutz Nutz•12 mins ago

Pakistani account. We need to laugh at your flood death toll. Probably this is all is taught in your madrasas. Bridge was not constructed properly and possibly sub graded materials used.

发现巴基斯坦人一枚。我们得嘲笑一下你们因洪水死亡的人数。也许你们ysl学校教的就只有这些。这座桥当初建造时就有问题，可能使用了次等材料。

Dinesh Paul•3506• Nutz Nutz•New York•25 mins ago

Why people blame Modi all the time. Really, be responsible citizens. To me, India is still a village. No proper policies, implementation is so poor and absolutely no risk management.

为什么人们什么事都怪莫迪。真的，做个负责任的公民吧。对我来说，印度还是个农村。没有好的政策，也没有好的执行，完全没有风险管理。

Sanjay Choudhary•13738• Nutz Nutz•4 hours ago

You have been paid to make this comment and you will repent through out your life to make such comment on the death of people. You will not be able to forgive yourself.

你是水军吧，你对别人的死亡发表这样的评论会后悔一辈子的。你会无法原谅自己的。

Indrajit Kumar Chanda•27155• Nutz Nutz•Kolkata•4 hours ago

Dont taunt. If u watch clips, u may see how hundreds of resellers were kicking, pulling the steel wires of the bridge.

别说风凉话。如果你看视频，你可能会看到这几百个人苦苦挣扎，拉扯吊桥的钢丝的画面。

Sanjay Choudhary•13738• KENNY•4 hours ago

Uneducated people and anti India people like you comment like this on a tragedy. God will punish you, please just wait.

只有无知的、反印度的人才会像你这样对惨剧发表如此评论。上帝会惩罚你的，耐心等待吧。

Raj tm•8347• Nutz Nutz•4 hours ago

The British built it so they are to blame.

这桥是英国人造的，要怪就怪英国人。

Jignesh Gaur•2180• Nutz Nutz•52 mins ago

Correct. Even more funny. Ticket counter did not know capacity. More funny people DID NOT REALISE TRAGEDY BECAUSE OF MODI DELUSION

没错。更搞笑的是售票处不知道这座桥的容载上限。更更搞笑的是大家都没有意识到这是一场悲剧。

Raj Dudeja• Nutz Nutz•1 hour ago

Bridge made in British era but labelled as Atmanirbhar

这座桥是英国殖民时期建造的，但被贴上了阿特曼尼哈尔的标签。

Jaise Ko Taisa•11721• Nutz Nutz•1 hour ago

You must thank the Indians who elected them.

你们要感谢把他们选举出来的印度人。

Aam Aadmi•3222• Nutz Nutz•4 hours ago

Life is really very simple but we insist on making it complicated. Runaway desires, wrong choices and absence of common sense are the commonest causes of disaster. A bridge meant to bear the weight of few is laden with several fold more. It will but collapse.

生活真的很简单，但我们偏要把它变复杂。失控的欲望、错误的选择和缺失的常识是造成灾难的最常见原因。一座本来只能承受少数人重量的桥，承载了数倍的重量，注定要崩塌。

User Kumar•3378• Aam Aadmi•3 hours ago

Well said. In the footage it is also evident that some mischief mongers may have caused the bridge to sway and get into an endless ripple effect resulting in the collapse. This is one of the common physics experiments.

说得好。从录像中还可以明显看出，可能是某些恶作剧者导致大桥摇晃，进而导致涟漪效应，最终导致吊桥坍塌。这是很普通的物理实验了。

Rational Corp•24749• Rational Corp•5 hours ago

Bridge was opened on October 26 and advertised on local media. Government claiming it was not aware, is just plain criminal incompetence, irresponsible and total failure of administration. The authorities are directly responsible for the tragic event.

这座桥于10月26日重新开放，还在当地媒体上打了广告。政府称不知情，这完全是可耻的失职、不负责任的行为，也是行政管理的彻底失败。政府对这一悲剧事件负有直接责任。

Jaise Ko Taisa•11721• Rational Corp•1 hour ago

IT IS THE CM who is accountable to the Public.

首席部长应该为这次事故负责，给大众一个解释。

ZN swq2•21744• ZN swq2•5 hours ago

The corrupt educated officials who cleared the safety audit if bridge must be jailed immd and their houses bulldozed. Let's see the justice of fake nationalists.

那些负责安全审核并验收合格的官员，受过教育却腐败堕落，必须把他们关进监狱，把他们的房子铲平。让我们看看冒充民族主义者会有什么下场。

User Kumar•3378• ZN swq2•3 hours ago

They won't get jailed. Instead they will get more contracts. Wait and watch.

他们才不会有牢狱之灾呢。相反，他们会拿下更多合同。走着瞧呗。

I am the Mirror•9758• ZN swq2•2 hours ago

Are you getting email notifications for comments you post in the Times site?

你在印度时报网站上发表评论后，有收到邮件通知吗？

Anjan Kesh•2429• Anjan Kesh•5 hours ago

Rest in peace my dear citizens. Its shameful that bjp openly takes 40% commission on infrastructure contracts just to satisfy the hunger for power of corrupt politicians like modi and shah, while our citizens die due to such corruption

安息吧，同胞们。太令人不齿了，人民党公开收取40%的基础设施合同佣金，只是为了满足莫迪和沙阿等腐败政客对权力的渴望，但我们印度公民却因这种腐败而丢掉了性命。

Sanjay Choudhary•13738• Anjan Kesh•3 hours ago

Your ancestors did inform you that BJP takes 40% commission, you slave of Gandi Family

你的长辈告诉过你，人民党的佣金有40%？你这个甘地家族的走狗。

Billy Manual•5882• Sanjay Choudhary•2 hours ago

But ancestor of Gandi Family Rajiv Gandi certainly informed that Congress takes 80% commission. So instead of waiting for perfect, public have picked better value for their tax money.

但甘地家族的拉吉夫·甘地肯定说过，国大党拿走了80%的佣金。所以公众为他们纳的税作出了更好的选择。

sdebldgsbsnl•16• Anjan Kesh•14 mins ago

it is not modi govt ...any govt comes to power doing same thing for last 7 decades...India become non-stoppable corruption at every level from panchayat to CM to PM every one involved in earning money through corrupt practices

不只是莫迪政府…过去70年里，所有政府上台后都在做同样的事情…从村务委员会到首席部长再到总理，印度的腐败无孔不入，每个人都靠腐败捞钱。

Sasi•32944•India•5 hours ago

There should be Mandatory Prison term for the acts of negligence and corruption which lead to such failures.

Criminals are not afraid that one day even their own descendants could be victims of such failures.

对导致这种事故的疏忽和腐败行为，我们应该采取强制性监禁。

难道罪犯们丝毫不担心，他们的后代有一天也会成为事故受害者吗？

Jaise Ko Taisa•11721• Sasi•1 hour ago

The real Criminals are those who have voted BJP to power.

真正的罪犯是那些投票给人民党掌权的人。

User Kumar• User Kumar•5 hours ago

People won't believe this illegitimate government any more.

人们不会再相信这个名不正言不顺的政府了。

A S•4300•5 hours ago

Very sad news. Pray for departed souls

120 died in South Korea and now 90 died in Gujarat.

太惨了。为逝去的灵魂祷告。

韩国刚死了120人，古吉拉特邦又死了90人。

Jaise Ko Taisa•11721• A S•1 hour ago

Gujarat is an out come of corruption and irresponsibility and the BJP Government si responsible.

古吉拉特邦就是腐败和玩忽职守的产物，人民党政府应该对此负责。

KENNY• A S•4 hours ago

Praying for a departed soul will not help but you can feel pity for them. As soon as a soul dies it reaches its destination called heaven or hell. We don't have authority or power to change a person's destination by prayers and rituals. Even God himself is helpless after a person dies.

为逝去的灵魂祷告于事无补，但你可以表示一下同情。灵魂一死，就会去到天堂或地狱。我们没有权力或能力通过祷告和仪式来改变一个人的归途。人死后，连上帝自己也无能为力。

Sasi•32944•India•5 hours ago

The people who construct such bridges believe in two things :

1) They will never be caught for any act of negligence or corruption.

2) Their descendents will not travel on these bridges.

建造这些桥梁的人相信两件事:

1) 他们永远不会因为渎职或腐败行为被捕。

2) 他们的子孙后代都不会在这些桥上通行。

ABHISHEK GUPTA•40•3 hours ago

This is exactly what happens when you vote for wrong people. It will come back to bite you hard.

这就是你们投错选票的后果。它会狠狠地反咬你一口。

kabir• ABHISHEK GUPTA•2 hours ago

Really? Who did you vote for and what have they done for the country (India, not Ilaly).

真的吗？那你投了谁的票呢，他们为印度（而非意大利）做过什么？

Mithilesh Kumar•46407•1 hour ago

Such accidents takes place when there is hurry in inaugurating just before the election to take votes from the people. The politicians forget that common people's life also matters. it is just shameful.

这样的事故发生在选举前夕，为了从民众手中拉选票而匆忙举行落成典礼的时候。政客们早就忘了，普通人的命也是命。太可耻了。