Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday postponed all political campaigns and cancelled a roadshow in the Gujarat region following the collapsed bridge that claimed many lives.

Mr Modi became emotional when he mentioned the loss of lives in Morbi, Gujarat, where a century-old cable suspension bridge, known as the ‘Jhulto Pool’ (swinging bridge), collapsed into the Machchhu river on Sunday.

“I am in Kevadia, but my heart goes out to the Morbi bridge collapse victims,” Mr Modi stated while visiting Kevadia, a city in Gujarat’s Narmada district.

He was supposed to hold a roadshow in Ahmedabad but cancelled the event because of the tragedy.

The PM expressed his sorrow to the bereaved families, saying, “troupes from across the country came to Kevadia to perform traditional dances, but their programme has been cancelled due to present circumstances.’’

The Indian prime minister was on a three-day visit to Gujarat, his home state, where he paid tribute to freedom struggle icon Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on what would have been his 147th birthday.

Indian rescue personnel conducted search operations after a bridge across the river Machchhu collapsed in Morbi, some 220 km from Ahmedabad.

On Sunday, at least 141 people, mostly women, children and the elderly, died, and several others remain missing following the bridge collapse tragedy.

The bridge was a major tourist attraction, which was reopened last week after being closed for seven months due to renovation. 

(Sputnik/NAN)