GUJARAT BRIDGE COLLAPSE: DEATH TOLL RISES TO 132

The death toll from the collapse of a colonial-era suspension bridge in India's western Gujarat state has risen to 132, according to officials, who worked through the night searching the Machhu River for survivors.

According to Gujarat's home minister Harsh Sanghavi, the number of fatalities rose from 68 on Sunday to 132 early on Monday.

The Information Department for Gujarat reports that 177 people have already been saved and 19 are receiving medical care.

The bridge in Morbi, a town about 200 kilometres (120 miles) west of Ahmedabad, Gujarat's capital, was constructed in the 19th century during British colonial rule. It had been closed for about six months for repairs before it was reopened to the public last week.

According to local media, hundreds of tourists were on the 230-meter (755-foot) bridge on Sunday when it fell. They were there to observe Diwali and the Chhath Puja festivals.

As rescuers battled to reach them, television video showed dozens of people clinging to the cables and bent bridge parts.

Others swam to safety, while some scaled the collapsed structure to reach the riverbanks. Several children were among the victims.

After falling from the bridge, Prateek Vasava, a witness swam to the river's edge and reported to the 24 Hours Gujarati news channel that he saw several kids fall into the water.

The bridge collapsed because it could not sustain the weight of so many people, according to Sukram, another witness who spoke to Reuters.

The government of Gujarat declared that an investigation into the disaster's cause was ongoing. According to the report, more than 200 rescue personnel had been enlisted in the search and rescue effort.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered a payment of 200,000 Indian rupees ($2,428) to the relatives of the deceased while on a three-day visit to Gujarat, his home state. He tweeted that the injured would receive 50,000 Indian Rupees.

Other countries that expressed sympathy for the disaster included Armenia, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates.