Zimbabwe expresses condolences to India over Gujar...

Zimbabwe expresses condolences to India over Gujarat Bridge collapse tragedy

Zimbabwe expresses condolences to India over Gujarat Bridge collapse tragedy

Bridget Mabanda

The Government of Zimbabwe has expressed sympathy to the people of India over the tragic loss of lives following the collapse of Gujarat Bridge.

In a tweet, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services said, “The government of Zimbabwe would like to express its deepest condolences to the tragic loss of life on the collapse of Gujarat Bridge. Our condolences also go to the bereaved families and pray for the quick recovery of all those injured in the tragedy.”

Zimbabwe residents have also sent condolence messages to India, saying that with a population segment of Zimbabwe being of Indian origin, they mourn together with the Indian people.

Kuda Hove a Zimbabwean student based in India said,” It is very heart wrenching, so many innocent lives lost, I was supposed to visit the bridge with friends after our exams.”

“We sympathise with India in the tragic loss of lives at the bridge. Our hearts and prayers the mourning families and to those injured we pray for the quick recovery,” said another Zimbabwean student in India

The collapse of a suspension bridge in India’s western Gujarat state on Sunday killed at least 134 people according to the Indian police, with the final tally yet to be declared.

Tragedy struck at around 18:40 (13:10 GMT) on Sunday.

In travel brochures, a visit to the Julto Pul (or the Hanging Bridge) is listed among "the top 10 things to do in Morbi" and it attracts a large number of sightseers and local people on holidays and at festivals.

More than 177 people have been rescued, officials said.

A five-person special investigation committee has been established to investigate the incident, Gujarat Home Minister Sanghavi said on October 31.

Search and recovery operations by hundreds of personnel from state and national disaster relief teams and the Indian military remain ongoing.

Nine people have been arrested and are being investigated for culpable homicide charges, state police said on October 31. All of the suspects are associated with the company Oreva.

They include two managers, two ticket clerks, two contractors and three security guards, according to senior police officer Ashok Kumar Yadav.

Zimbabwe and India have developed multi-faceted bilateral relationships including political exchanges and development partnerships.

Zimbabwe received a donation Covid-19 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe, India donated medicines, rice, ambulances and vaccines.

India has been a partner in the field of education, telecommunications, health and power sectors among others.

Indian banks have also extended funding to local infrastructure projects supporting running into millions of US dollars, including a US$310 million loan for Hwange Power Station life expansion, Bulawayo thermal re-opening.