At least 17 workers have died and “many more” are missing after a railway bridge under construction collapsed over a gorge in eastern India on Wednesday, local authorities said.
“A railway bridge under construction in Sairang, near Aizawl, collapsed today, killing at least 17 workers,” local government chief Mr. Zoramthang reported on his X (ex-Twitter) account.
A video he uploaded shows the metal construction coming loose and the pillars falling into the valley.
A police officer quoted in the Indian Express newspaper said 17 bodies had been found and “many others” were missing.
Information about the missing people could not be immediately confirmed.
“The rescue operations are underway and all possible assistance is being provided to those affected,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office said.
Mr Modi said he was “painful” about the accident and offered his condolences to those who have lost loved ones, his office assured on X (ex-Twitter).
According to the statement, the government will pay about $2,400 to the families of those killed.
The state of Mizoram is located in the extreme east of India, on the border with Burma.
People “came out in large numbers to support the rescue operations,” said Mr Zoramthanga, who said he was “deeply saddened and saddened by this tragedy”.
Accidents on major infrastructure construction sites are common in India.