The Facts
The death toll from a collapse of a pedestrian bridge in western India has risen to at least 132 people, local officials said as rescue teams continued to search for the missing on Monday.
More than 400 people were reportedly on the suspension bridge over the Machchu River in the city of Morbi, in the state of Gujarat when it collapsed on Sunday. People had come onto the bridge to celebrate a post-Diwali religious practice in which idols are submerged in the river.
The Spin
Narrative A
Questions must be asked of the Oreva group who were maintaining the bridge. Why did a company specializing in clocks, bulbs, and electrical appliances receive the contract to repair the 140-year-old structure? There are also reports the bridge reopened without authorization from local officials. These pressing questions must be answered.
Narrative B
This is a tragedy with multiple possible causes. There are reports that groups of teenagers were shaking the bridge before its collapse. Noises were also heard several times before the structure gave way. There may be multiple stakeholders who need to answer tough questions — where were the police and the local authorities?