Udhampur: At least 40 people, including several children, were injured when a footbridge collapsed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Friday. According to local officials, the incident took place at Beni Sangam in Bain village of Chenani block during Baisakhi celebrations. Locals told that a large number of people were present on the bridge when it collapsed.
Videos and pictures showing the extent of the damage in the remote Chenani block have been widely circulated on social media.
#Udhampur Footbridge collapses, many injured pic.twitter.com/jBzTuNFp8j– Omar (@0mer_ah) April 14, 2023
bridge collapses due to overloading
PTI quoted Jammu division commissioner Ramesh Kumar as saying that the bridge collapsed due to overloading as a large number of people were on board at the time of the accident. However, no casualties have been reported, he said.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Chenani Municipality Manik Gupta said, “At least 80 people were injured, of which 20-25 are serious. We have referred 6-7 people to the district hospital. Others are here in Chenani and He is undergoing treatment.” Care was taken by the medical staff. ,
#Updates , J&K: Footbridge collapses during Baisakhi festival at Benisangam in Bain village of Chenani block, Udhampur. Scenes from the hospital where he has been taken.
Manik Gupta, chairman of the Chenani Municipality, says, “At least 80 people were injured, including… pic.twitter.com/GfmRRid1ER– ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2023
rescue operation underway
Officials said police and relief teams have reached the spot and rescue operations are currently underway. The injured have been admitted to Chenani Hospital, he said. Officials said the four injured were being taken to the district hospital Udhampur.