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40 feared killed as bridge collapses in Daman

By Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD Aug. 28. At least 40 persons, mostly school children were feared killed, as part of the 300-metre long bridge over the Daman-Ganga river linking Moti Daman and Nani Daman in the Union Territory of Daman collapsed this afternoon.

The Daman Inspector-General of police said atleast 20 children had died and their bodies had been retrieved. Six persons were rescued. About 28 to 30 children of a local convent school returning home in a mini bus were believed to have been among those trapped in the vehicle inside the water. The authorities were not sure whether all the bodies could be recovered as currents were strong.

Official sources here said that along with the bus, several other vehicles, including an autorickshaw, some motorcycles and a van carrying some passengers had also fallen into the water as the small old bridge caved in.

Reports reaching here speak of some "administrative lapses" in maintaining the bridge which was in a bad shape — further accentuated by the heavy rains this year. Though only about 25 years old, the bridge is believed to have outlived its utility and was in the process of being de-commissioned though some emergency repair was carried out. Normally, people are asked to disembark at either end of the bridge and cross it by foot while the vehicles are allowed to cross empty. Due to some "lapses", the school bus and the other vehicles today were crossing the bridge with the passengers and this is believed to be the reason for the collapse of a 90-metre portion of the bridge.

The Union Minister of State for Home, Haren Pathak, is going to Daman tomorrow.

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