Girl dies, 61 injured as footbridge collapses during Baisakhi celebrations in J-K's Udhampur
The bridge collapsed due to overloading as large number of people were on it at the time of the incident
By Newsmeter Network Published on 15 April 2023 2:59 AM GMT
Udhampur (JK): A nine-year-old girl died and 61 people, including several children, were injured on Friday when a footbridge collapsed due to overloading as people swarmed it during Baisakhi celebrations in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district.
The incident took place at Beni Sangam in Bain village of Chenani block during Baisakhi celebrations. Police and relief teams rushed to the spot and began rescue operations.
Videos and pictures purporting to show the extent of damage in the far-flung Chenani block were widely circulated on social media.
The government has ordered a probe led by Deputy Commissioner Udhampur into the collapse.
Udhampur Deputy Commissioner Krittika Jyotsna, who visited the hospital to meet the injured, told reporters that the accident took place late in the afternoon when the people were celebrating Baisakhi.
"Sixty-two people were injured. Out of them, 35 were admitted to district hospital. The critically injured were taken to GMC Hospital in Jammu", she said.
"One girl has died in the hospital, and the other injured are being treated at Chenani hospital," Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar told.
People in large numbers were on the bridge when it collapsed, the officials said.
The bridge collapsed due to overloading as large number of people were on it at the time of the accident, Kumar said.
Inputs from PTI
