20 killed in Indian bridge construction collapse

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A total of 20 people have died and three were injured after a launcher and girder weighing a combined 1,950 tons collapsed during the construction of a bridge near Mumbai in India.

The incident happened during the construction of a bridge on the Samruddhi Expressway near Sarlambe village in Thane’s Shahapur, 80km from Mumbai, according to the Times of India.

The 100m-long launcher was installing pre-cast girders for the bridge when the accident happened. The launcher and girder fell from a height of around 35m, according to reports.

The office of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a statement that it was “pained by the tragic mishap”.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are injured. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local administration are working at the site of the mishap and all possible measures are being taken to ensure proper assistance to those affected.”

It added that the government would make an ex-gratia payment of Rs. 2 lakh (US$2,422) to the next of kin of each person who died.

Eknath Shinde, the chief minister of the state of Maharashtra has ordered an investigation into the incident.