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23 die in bridge collapse

MARDAN (Pakistan): A bridge over a flooded stream collapsed amid heavy rains in north-western Pakistan on Saturday, killing at least 23 persons, an official said. About 200 persons were standing on the bridge in the city of Mardan when it suddenly collapsed, said Himayatullah Mayar, the district mayor. ``Rescuers have found 23 bodies, and we fear that many others are still trapped under the debris,'' he said, adding authorities had sought the army's help to handle the tragedy. Mardan lies about 100 km northwest of the capital Islamabad. Mohammed Iftikhar, an area police official, said the bridge crossed a stream that had flooded because of torrential rain. ``We fear that some people have drowned. But several are buried under the debris, and our people are trying to rescue them,'' he said. Dozens of people have died across Pakistan in recent weeks due to monsoon rains, landslides and flash floods. — AP

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