There were about 500 people on the bridge, although only about 125 were needed.
Morbi, Gujarat:
Just before a British-era bridge collapsed into the Morbi in Gujarat on Sunday night, people deliberately rocked it. At least 140 people died after the bridge crashed into the river.
A CCTV video shows a man swinging wildly, holding the cables on both sides, just as the bridge collapsed, around 6:32 p.m.
The bridge is full of people, some taking pictures on their cellphones and others trying to shake the bridge, the video shows. Within seconds, the metal cables break and the bridge falls, sending people into the Macchu River. The walkway and a fence collapsed, leaving one side dangling in the air.
People fell for each other, witnesses said.
More videos taken later showed people clinging to the remains of the bridge as some swim to safety.
There were about 500 people on the bridge, although only about 125 were needed.
Jayrajsinh Jadeja, a councilor of the ruling BJP in Morbi, said 400 to 500 tickets were issued on Sunday, leading to overcrowding and the collapse.
The 150-year-old bridge was opened to the public on October 26 after seven months of repair and maintenance work. The agreement between the Municipality of Morbi and Ajanta Manufacturers, the private company hired to maintain the bridge, shows that the bridge was reopened earlier.
Under the contract, the bridge was to be closed for maintenance for eight to 12 months before opening.
Sandeepsinh Zala, chief officer of Morbi Municipality, said the company, Oreva, had not informed authorities about the reopening of the bridge and had not received a certificate of suitability for it.
