12 members of Rajkot BJP MP's family killed in Morbi bridge collapse

As many as twelve family members of Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya, BJP MP from Rajkot, also lost their lives in the Morbi bridge collapse in Gujarat on Sunday evening.

Speaking to India Today TV, Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya said, "I have lost 12 members of my family, including five children, in the mishap. I lost family members who were from my sister's family."

They had gone to visit the picnic spot on Sunday when the tragedy took place, the BJP MP said.

12 victims of his family included five children, four women and three men, all close relatives of his elder brother. Strict action will be taken against those responsible for the tragedy, he said.

"Four daughters of the brother-in-law of my elder brother, the husbands of three of them and five children were killed in the accident," Kundariya said.

They belonged to different villages in Tankara taluka and were settled in Morbi, he said.

"As it was Sunday, they had gone to the picnic spot where the tragedy occurred. I reached there half-an-hour after the incident took place and have been at the spot since yesterday, helping in the rescue work," the MP added.

"NDRF, SDRF and local administration are carrying out the search and rescue operations. All those who survived the mishap have been rescued and efforts are underway to recover the bodies of those in Machchhu river and rescue boats are also at the spot," the BJP MP said.

As many as 132 people, mostly women and children, were killed when the century-old suspension bridge on Machchhu river in Gujarat's Morbi city collapsed. Five teams of NDRF, Army, SDRF and local administration are carrying out search and rescue operations on war footing.

ALSO READ | 132 killed as bridge collapses in Gujarat's Morbi days after renovation; rescue ops on

Asked about how permission was given to open the bridge, the BJP MP said, "An investigation will be carried out to find out how this tragedy unfolded. Those found responsible will be punished. Among those dead are mostly women and children and locals and NGOs have also joined the rescue operations."

“More than 60 bodies were recovered, of which more are of children, women & elderly. The rest have been rescued; a NDRF rescue op is underway. We’re taking this matter very seriously, it’s very saddening,” the minister said on Sunday.

MORBI BRIDGE COLLAPSE LIVE UPDATES HERE

COMMITTEE FORMED TO PROBE THE INCIDENT

Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi told reporters at Morbi, around 300 km from the state capital, that the state government has formed a committee to probe the collapse.

A five-member Special Investigation team (SIT) team has been formed to investigate the incident. An FIR was lodged in the bridge collapse under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (intentional act causing death) and 114 (abettor present when offence committed), against whoever is found responsible, Sanghavi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel have announced the ex gratia for the dead and for the injured.

Addressing a press conference, Harsh Sanghavi said, "As of now, 132 people have died in the incident. The bridge collapsed at around 6.30 pm on Sunday evening. Due to the Diwali vacation and being a Sunday, there was a rush of tourists on the bridge, a major tourist attraction. Rescue operations were carried out throughout the night and PM Modi has also taken stock of the situation.

ALSO READ | Morbi bridge collapse: 5 NDRF teams, Army carrying out rescue ops on war footing

ALSO READ | Moments after tragedy: People struggle to get out of water as Morbi bridge collapses | Video