The Evening Wrap: Dozens feared dead after suspension bridge collapses in Gujarat’s Morbi

Dozens of people have died after more than 350 people have fallen into the Machchhu river when a cable bridge collapsed in Gujarat’s Morbi town on Sunday evening. According to Morbi MLA and the State Minister Brijesh Merja 40 people have died so far in the tragedy even as the number is likely to go up significantly. The State government has officially not given any casualty figure but the Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia for the dead and the injured. As the casualty numbers are rising, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other Ministerial colleagues are rushing to Morbi to oversee rescue works by state agencies. Authorities have launched a rescue operation amidst chaos at the site after the colonial era bridge was reopened after repair and renovation on October 26. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Gujarat for three-day visit, directed the Gujarat Chief Minister to mobilise teams on urgent basis for rescue work. Mr. Patel has informed that the local administration has already launched the rescue operation and the injured persons are being taken to the hospitals. The Prime Minister has also announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each of those who lost their lives. The injured would be given ₹50,000. The colonial era bridge was originally built by the erstwhile princely state of Morbi and the bridge was considered a marvel of British engineering. Locally, it was called Julto Pool and was one of the tourist attractions of Morbi, a major industrial town with thousands of factories making ceramic tiles and bathroom products and wall clocks. The state authorities have dispatched emergency rescue teams from neighbouring districts to Morbi to join the rescue efforts hampered by the dark and heavy water into the river. Five killed, two injured as old building collapses in Maharashtra’s Amravati Five persons were killed and two others suffered serious injuries after a dilapidated ground-plus-two-storey building collapsed in Amravati city of Maharashtra on Sunday, a senior police official said. The incident occurred around 2 p.m., the official said. "The building located in Prabhat Chowk area of the city collapsed, killing five persons and injuring two others," Amravati Police Commissioner Dr. Arti Singh said. After the building collapsed, the bodies of the persons buried under the debris were brought out by the rescue team. But the rescue work is still on, District Collector Pavneet Kaur said, adding that the incident will be investigated and strict action will be taken against those responsible. A civic official said the Amravati Municipal Corporation (AMC) had issued a notice for the demolition of the building in July this year as it had become old and dilapidated. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief over the incident and announced on Twitter that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has decided to provide a financial assistance of ₹5 lakh to the families of each deceased from the CM Relief Fund. The medical expenses of the injured persons would be borne by the State government, he added. The Divisional Commissioner has been instructed to conduct an inquiry into the incident, Mr. Fadnavis tweeted. PM Modi lays foundation stone for C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing facility at Vadodara to be set up by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Airbus Defence and Space. The C-295 will replace the Avro aircraft in service with IAF. After laying the foundation stone, Mr. Modi said “Today we have taken a major step towards making India into an aircraft manufacturing hub. Today, India manufactures fighter planes, tanks, and submarines. Besides, Indian medicines and vaccines are saving the lives of millions across the globe. Now India will become a big manufacturer of transport aircraft.” The Prime Minister added that “This is the first time that such a huge investment is taking place in India’s defence aerospace sector. Transport aircraft to be built in Vadodara will not only give strength to our armed forces but will also develop a new ecosystem for aircraft manufacturing.” Mr. Modi said, “We have carried out several economic reforms over the years. These reforms have hugely benefitted the manufacturing sector and given it a boost.” The Prime Minister said “Our policy is stable, predictable and futuristic. Through PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and National Logistics Policy, we are trying to bring changes in the logistic system of the country.” South Korean President declares mourning period after Halloween crush kills at least 150 South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a period of national mourning on Sunday after a Halloween crush killed some 150 people in a packed nightlife area in Seoul. Yoon expressed condolences to the victims, mostly teenagers and people in their 20s, and his wishes for a speedy recovery to the many injured in one of the South Korea's worst disasters and the world's worst stampedes in decades. "This is truly tragic," he said in a statement. "A tragedy and disaster that should not have happened took place in the heart of Seoul last night." A huge crowd celebrating in the popular Itaewon district surged into an alley on Saturday night, emergency officials said, adding the death toll could rise. Choi Sung-beom, head of the Yongsan Fire Station, said 151 deaths had been confirmed, including 22 foreigners. He told a briefing at the scene 82 people were injured, 19 of them seriously. Families and friends desperately sought word of loved ones at community centres that had become makeshift facilities for missing persons. As of midday, the Interior Ministry said at least 90% of the victims had been identified, with delays affecting some foreign nationals and teenagers who did not yet have identification cards. South Korean tech and mobile game firms including Kakao and NCSOFT pulled their Halloween promotions after the tragedy, while amusement park Everland cancelled Halloween-themed events. Many regional governments and organisations have cancelled or reduced festivals and other celebrations. It was the first Halloween event in Seoul in three years to be virtually free of COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing. Many of the partygoers were wearing masks and Halloween costumes. Early on Sunday costumes and personal belongings mingled with blood spots in the narrow street. Survivors huddled under emergency blankets amid throngs of emergency workers, police, and media. Many of those killed were near a nightclub, Choi said. Many of the victims were women in their 20s, while the foreigners killed included people from China, Iran, Uzbekistan and Norway, he said. Witnesses described the crowd becoming increasingly unruly and agitated as the evening deepened. Chaos erupted just before the 10.20 p.m. (6.50 p.n. IST) stampede, with police on hand for the event at times struggling to control the crowds, witnesses said. ICC Twenty20 World Cup | South Africa defeat India by five wickets On the back of a fifty by David Miller and a rock-solid partnership between Miller and Markram, South Africa defeated India by five wickets. South Africa lost its top three cheaply as Arshdeep struck with two blows early in the innings. Mohammed Shami picked the wicket of captain Temba Bavuma as South Africa managed 24 runs in the first six overs. Suryakumar Yadav lifted India to 133 for nine with a 40-ball 68 against South Africa in the T20 World Cup here on Sunday. Opting to bat, skipper Rohit Sharma was the first batter to get dismissed, following which India kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Returning to the team at the expense of Tabraiz Shamsi, pacer Lungi Ngidi was the wrecker-in-chief as he ran through the famed Indian top-order with four wickets during an incisive spell of fast bowling on a pacy track. However, Suryakumar was at his aggressive best and revived India’s innings with his dazzling array of strokes. Left-arm pacer Wayne Parnell took 3/15 in his four overs. In brief The two car bombs that exploded at Somalia's Education Ministry, next to a busy market intersection, killed at least 100 people and wounded 300, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said on Sunday, warning the death toll could rise. Mogadishu's K5 intersection is normally teeming with people buying and selling everything from food, clothing and water to foreign currency and khat, a mild narcotic leaf, but it was quiet on Sunday, when emergency workers were still cleaning blood from the streets and buildings. Saturday's attack was the deadliest since a truck bomb exploded at the same intersection in October 2017, killing more than 500 people. No one immediately claimed responsibility, but Mohamud blamed the Islamist al Qaeda-linked group al Shabaab. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow. [logo] The Evening Wrap 30 OCTOBER 2022 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( Dozens feared dead after suspension bridge collapses in Gujarat’s Morbi [Dozens of people have died after more than 350 people have fallen into the Machchhu river]( when a cable bridge collapsed in Gujarat’s Morbi town on Sunday evening. According to Morbi MLA and the State Minister Brijesh Merja 40 people have died so far in the tragedy even as the number is likely to go up significantly. [The collapsed portion of an old suspension bridge over the Machchhu river in Gujarat’s Morbi district on October 30, 2022. ] The State government has officially not given any casualty figure but the Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia for the dead and the injured. As the casualty numbers are rising, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other Ministerial colleagues are rushing to Morbi to oversee rescue works by state agencies. Authorities have launched a rescue operation amidst chaos at the site after the colonial era bridge was reopened after repair and renovation on October 26. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Gujarat for three-day visit, directed the Gujarat Chief Minister to mobilise teams on urgent basis for rescue work. Mr. Patel has informed that the local administration has already launched the rescue operation and the injured persons are being taken to the hospitals. The Prime Minister has also announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each of those who lost their lives. The injured would be given ₹50,000. The colonial era bridge was originally built by the erstwhile princely state of Morbi and the bridge was considered a marvel of British engineering. Locally, it was called Julto Pool and was one of the tourist attractions of Morbi, a major industrial town with thousands of factories making ceramic tiles and bathroom products and wall clocks. The state authorities have dispatched emergency rescue teams from neighbouring districts to Morbi to join the rescue efforts hampered by the dark and heavy water into the river. Five killed, two injured as old building collapses in Maharashtra’s Amravati Five persons were killed and two others suffered serious injuries after[a dilapidated ground-plus-two-storey building collapsed in Amravati city of Maharashtra]( on Sunday, a senior police official said. The incident occurred around 2 p.m., the official said. "The building located in Prabhat Chowk area of the city collapsed, killing five persons and injuring two others," Amravati Police Commissioner Dr. Arti Singh said. After the building collapsed, the bodies of the persons buried under the debris were brought out by the rescue team. But the rescue work is still on, District Collector Pavneet Kaur said, adding that the incident will be investigated and strict action will be taken against those responsible. A civic official said the Amravati Municipal Corporation (AMC) had issued a notice for the demolition of the building in July this year as it had become old and dilapidated. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief over the incident and announced on Twitter that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has decided to provide a financial assistance of ₹5 lakh to the families of each deceased from the CM Relief Fund. The medical expenses of the injured persons would be borne by the State government, he added. The Divisional Commissioner has been instructed to conduct an inquiry into the incident, Mr. Fadnavis tweeted. PM Modi lays foundation stone for C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara Prime Minister [Narendra Modi on Sunday laid the foundation stone]( for the C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing facility at Vadodara to be set up by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Airbus Defence and Space. The C-295 will replace the Avro aircraft in service with IAF. After laying the foundation stone, Mr. Modi said “Today we have taken a major step towards making India into an aircraft manufacturing hub. Today, India manufactures fighter planes, tanks, and submarines. Besides, Indian medicines and vaccines are saving the lives of millions across the globe. Now India will become a big manufacturer of transport aircraft.” The Prime Minister added that “This is the first time that such a huge investment is taking place in India’s defence aerospace sector. Transport aircraft to be built in Vadodara will not only give strength to our armed forces but will also develop a new ecosystem for aircraft manufacturing.” Mr. Modi said, “We have carried out several economic reforms over the years. These reforms have hugely benefitted the manufacturing sector and given it a boost.” The Prime Minister said “Our policy is stable, predictable and futuristic. Through PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and National Logistics Policy, we are trying to bring changes in the logistic system of the country.” South Korean President declares mourning period after Halloween crush kills at least 150   South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a period of national mourning on Sunday after [a Halloween crush killed some 150 people]( in a packed nightlife area in Seoul. Yoon expressed condolences to the victims, mostly teenagers and people in their 20s, and his wishes for a speedy recovery to the many injured in one of the South Korea's worst disasters and the world's worst stampedes in decades. "This is truly tragic," he said in a statement. "A tragedy and disaster that should not have happened took place in the heart of Seoul last night." A huge crowd celebrating in the popular Itaewon district surged into an alley on Saturday night, emergency officials said, adding the death toll could rise. Choi Sung-beom, head of the Yongsan Fire Station, said 151 deaths had been confirmed, including 22 foreigners. He told a briefing at the scene 82 people were injured, 19 of them seriously. [People pay tribute in Seoul on October 30, 2022 near the scene of the stampede during Halloween festivities. ] Families and friends desperately sought word of loved ones at community centres that had become makeshift facilities for missing persons. As of midday, the Interior Ministry said at least 90% of the victims had been identified, with delays affecting some foreign nationals and teenagers who did not yet have identification cards. South Korean tech and mobile game firms including Kakao and NCSOFT pulled their Halloween promotions after the tragedy, while amusement park Everland cancelled Halloween-themed events. Many regional governments and organisations have cancelled or reduced festivals and other celebrations. It was the first Halloween event in Seoul in three years to be virtually free of COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing. Many of the partygoers were wearing masks and Halloween costumes. Early on Sunday costumes and personal belongings mingled with blood spots in the narrow street. Survivors huddled under emergency blankets amid throngs of emergency workers, police, and media. Many of those killed were near a nightclub, Choi said. Many of the victims were women in their 20s, while the foreigners killed included people from China, Iran, Uzbekistan and Norway, he said. Witnesses described the crowd becoming increasingly unruly and agitated as the evening deepened. Chaos erupted just before the 10.20 p.m. (6.50 p.n. IST) stampede, with police on hand for the event at times struggling to control the crowds, witnesses said. ICC Twenty20 World Cup | South Africa defeat India by five wickets On the back of a fifty by David Miller and a rock-solid partnership between Miller and Markram, [South Africa defeated India by five wickets](. South Africa lost its top three cheaply as Arshdeep struck with two blows early in the innings. Mohammed Shami picked the wicket of captain Temba Bavuma as South Africa managed 24 runs in the first six overs. Suryakumar Yadav lifted India to 133 for nine with a 40-ball 68 against South Africa in the T20 World Cup here on Sunday. Opting to bat, skipper Rohit Sharma was the first batter to get dismissed, following which India kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Returning to the team at the expense of Tabraiz Shamsi, pacer Lungi Ngidi was the wrecker-in-chief as he ran through the famed Indian top-order with four wickets during an incisive spell of fast bowling on a pacy track. However, Suryakumar was at his aggressive best and revived India’s innings with his dazzling array of strokes. Left-arm pacer Wayne Parnell took 3/15 in his four overs. In brief The two car bombs that exploded at Somalia's Education Ministry, next to a busy market intersection, [killed at least 100 people and wounded 300]( President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said on Sunday, warning the death toll could rise. Mogadishu's K5 intersection is normally teeming with people buying and selling everything from food, clothing and water to foreign currency and khat, a mild narcotic leaf, but it was quiet on Sunday, when emergency workers were still cleaning blood from the streets and buildings. Saturday's attack was the deadliest since a truck bomb exploded at the same intersection in October 2017, killing more than 500 people. No one immediately claimed responsibility, but Mohamud blamed the Islamist al Qaeda-linked group al Shabaab. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow. Today’s Top Picks [[Watch | Why is this US basketball star still in a Russian jail?] Watch | Why is this US basketball star still in a Russian jail?]( [[By the end of the year Sankar Muthusamy should break into World men’s top 100, says Aravindan] By the end of the year Sankar Muthusamy should break into World men’s top 100, says Aravindan]( [[Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur returns with his first rom-com, ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It?’] Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur returns with his first rom-com, ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It?’]( [[Explained | Is the world’s climate action plan on track?] Explained | Is the world’s climate action plan on track?]( Copyright @ 2022, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. If you are facing any trouble in viewing this newsletter, please [try here]( If you do not wish to receive such emails [go here](