The presumed responsible are the ticket agents and the managers. However, details of those detained will be made public at a later date, while police continue to focus on finding who else was involved.

“Nine people were arrested in the case of the collapse of the Morbi bridge. Among them are two managers and two ticket agents from the Oreva group which manages the bridge,” the police said, announcing a criminal investigation into the tragedy that shook the country.

The colonial-era bridge over the Machchhu River was packed with tourists enjoying the holiday celebrations on Sunday afternoon. It is estimated that there were around 400 people passing through.

The 140-year-old bridge suddenly collapsed on Sunday evening, throwing hundreds of people into the water. Some were hanging, trying to survive until the rescue team arrived. Others swam sideways, holding on to something so as not to drown.

“People were hanging on the remains after the accident, but they slipped and fell into the river when it collapsed,” police were quoted as saying. Reuters.

There are many sunk and lost. According to initial reports, 90 people were killed, dozens were injured and some are missing. On Monday (31/10), police said the number of victims had risen to 134, including children.

It is the most heartbreaking and deadly event of the past decade.

Police continue to trace the incident. According to CCTV footage, several naughty children attempt to swing the bridge from side to side.

“About 15 to 20 naughty children shook the ropes of the bridge. Three times there was a loud banging noise from the bridge before it collapsed,” police said, as reported by ANI.

Senior bridge management staff, a ticket agent and three security guards will be held accountable for failing to manage the crowd.

Police said it was not impossible that more would be arrested as the investigation progressed.

Oreva Group, a Gujarat-based contractor known for its Ajanta Clock project, was in charge of maintaining the bridge for 15 years.

The bridge was closed for six months for renovations and reopened to the public last week.

However, “they have not given us any information that they will reopen the bridge,” said a municipal official from Morbi.

Officials say the bridge collapsed because it could not accommodate the number of people on it.

This historic 140-year-old bridge, 230 meters long and built under British rule in the 19th century, is a tourist attraction that attracts visitors especially on weekends and during recent Diwali celebrations.