The Indian Army, Navy, Airforce, Fire Brigade, and NDRF were pressed into rescue operations, as a cable bridge over the Machchhu river collapsed under the collective weight of about 400 people in Gujarats Morbi region.
About 134 people have perished in the unfortunate accident, as eyewitnesses on the scene said there were several women and children on the nearly 150-year-old bridge, when cables supporting it snapped.
Many were performing Chhath puja rituals on the bridge located 300 km from Vadodara, when the incident took place. A few were seen in CCTV footage of the incident, shaking the bridge, causing it to sway.
The bridge is then seen suddenly giving way, as hundreds of people fell into the river below. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with about 177 people having been rescued so far.
The bridge could take the weight of only about 125 people, according to officials.
The bridge had been shut for seven months as it underwent repairs. It was reopened to the public on October 26, the Gujarati New Year. Questions are being raised by angry locals whether all the checks and balances were in place before the reopening.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have announced compensation for those who have been injured or kin of those deceased in the incident.
Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said this morning that a criminal case has been registered and a five-member high-powered committee is probing the incident.