Over 60 injured as iron bridge collapses during Baisakhi festival in Udhampur

Preliminary reports suggest the bridge could not take the weight of the number of people gathered there for the festivities

People gather after a footbridge collapsed during the Baisakhi celebration at Beni Sangam, in Udhampur, on April 14, 2023 | Photo Credit: PTI

At least 62 civilians were injured as a footbridge collapsed during Baisakhi festivities in Jammu’s Udhampur district on Friday.

“A footbridge collapsed during the Baisakhi celebration at Beni Sangam in Bain village in Udhampur’s Chenani Block. The police and other teams reached the site to evacuate the civilians,” Vinod Kumar, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Udhampur, said.

“Twenty-five were referred to the district hospital. The evacuation was done in half an hour. Five injured people in critical condition were referred to Jammu,” Krittika Jyotsna, Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, said.

Scores of civilians had assembled over the bridge during a Baisakhi fair in Vinisang village. Preliminary reports suggested the bridge collapsed as it could not bear the weight of people standing on it.