Latest News
‘A huge explosion-like sound’ – Survivors recall moment India bridge collapsed
Survivors of a bridge collapse in India’s Gujarat state on Wednesday that killed at least 15 people have said that they initially thought it was an explosion or earthquake.
The cause of the collapse is still to be ascertained, and investigations are under way according to state government officials.
Anwarbhai, who was driving a van which had two other passengers, was on the bridge on Wednesday morning when he heard a deafening crack – a section of the bridge behind him had collapsed into the Mahisagar river, taking some vehicles along with it.
“There was a huge explosion-like sound and part of the bridge collapsed behind us. Our van also started rolling backwards so we quickly jumped out,” he told BBC Gujarati.
The 40-year-old bridge connected Vadodara district with central Gujarat and usually saw a lot of traffic.
Dramatic visuals after the collapse showed a truck teetering dangerously from the edge of the broken bridge – it was later moved to safety. But other vehicles, including lorries, cars and a tuktuk, plunged into the water.
At least four people are still missing and search operations are under way.
“Our priority is to check the area quickly and retrieve both bodies and any survivors,” Surender Singh, an official with the National Disaster Response Force, told news agency ANI.
Sonalben Padhiyar was the only survivor among her family members after the car she was travelling in fell into the river. Recounting the terrifying moments, Ms Padhiyar told the Indian Express newspaper that she was sitting in the back when the car fell into the river headfirst. A video of her, visibly distressed and shouting for someone to save her son, has since gone viral. She later told ANI that she screamed for a long time before help arrived. She lost six family members.
Dilipsinh Padhiyar, another survivor (not related to Ms Padhiyar), was returning home from a night shift on his two-wheeler when the accident took place. “Traffic was moving as usual,” he told the Indian Express. He said he had barely crossed 100m on the bridge when he felt a vibration before the structure gave way. “I found myself falling into the river,” he said. Mr Padhiyar suffered injuries but managed to hold on to a metal rod and stay afloat until local fishermen arrived to help.
Eyewitnesses said the collapse felt like an earthquake, shaking the ground and sending multiple vehicles crashing into the river.
Jairaj Singh, one of the locals who rushed to the scene, told BBC Gujarati he was alerted by a phone call from a friend.
“As soon as I heard, I rushed over,” he said. “We began pulling out vehicles with ropes. People from the area came together to help.”
The collapse has set off a political row, with locals saying they had often complained about its poor condition.
Ravibhai, who lives in the area, told BBC Gujarati that the bridge would often shake when heavy vehicles drove on it.
Abhesinh Parmar, a local council chief from a village near the bridge, said it was in a “dilapidated” condition and “had potholes everywhere”.
“Rods could be seen sticking out of the structure. We complained many times, but no action was taken,” he alleged.
Rushikesh Patel, a spokesperson for the Gujarat government, denied this, saying that the bridge was inspected and repaired at regular intervals.
“Recently, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel had approved dismantling the existing bridge and constructing a new one. We were set to issue a tender soon,” he said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is from Gujarat, has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and announced compensation.
Wednesday’s collapse is among a series of deadly accidents linked to ageing and poorly maintained public infrastructure in India.
In 2022, around 135 people were killed when a 137-year-old suspension bridge in Gujarat’s Morbi town collapsed into a river. The bridge, a popular tourist attraction, had reopened for visitors just days earlier following repairs.
[BBC]
A train driver has died and at least 40 people have been injured in a head-on rail collision near Peru’s most popular tourist attraction, Machu Picchu.
Two trains collided on the single track leading to the ancient Inca town on Tuesday, according to a statement from the local government.
It said that 20 ambulances had attended the scene and that injured people had been transferred to medical facilities in the nearby city of Cusco.
The US embassy in Peru said that US citizens were injured in the crash, while the UK Foreign Office said it was “supporting a number of British nationals involved”.
Local media outlet Peru21 reports that hundreds of tourists remain at the scene awaiting evacuation, which has been hampered by difficult terrain around the crash site.
At least 20 of the injured are in a serious condition, a health official told the Reuters news agency.
The collision occurred on the track linking Ollantaytambo Station and Aguas Calientes, the closest town to Machu Picchu. The journey between the two stations usually takes around 90 minutes.
The two trains involved in the accident were operated by PeruRail and Inca Rail respectively.
“We deeply regret what has happened,” PeruRail said in a statement, adding that its staff had “immediately” provided first aid to the train driver, the train conductor and the passengers involved in the incident.
The cause of the accident has not yet been made clear.
(BBC)
Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya in her New Year message invited all Sri Lankans to step into 2026 with renewed energy, hope, and determination.
The PM’s New Year message:
“As we move forward to the New Year of 2026, it is timely to reflect on the year 2025 that has passed. The year 2025 can be granted as a year having made a number of decisive and progressive steps with a people oriented government.
I am confident that, within a new political culture, we were able to strengthen transparency in state governance and lay the foundation for an efficient and corruption free public service.
We can be satisfied with the progress achieved in several key areas during 2025, including economic stability, the increasingly positive and optimistic international perception towards our country, the establishment of transparent systems of governance, and the strengthening of the sovereignty of the legislation system.
However, the unfortunate disastrous situation we experienced towards the end of 2025 was a challenging period for our nation. While it deeply moved us all, the spirit of solidarity, compassion, and collectivity shown by Sri Lankans during that difficult situation received admiration across the world.
As we step into the New Year 2026, we hold commitment to overcoming those challenges, healing from the disaster, and restoring the lives and livelihoods that were affected.
Moving forward with the goals such as initiating qualitative and sustainable transformation in the education sector, digitalizing all sectors of the public service, creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurs, artists, and creators with innovative ideas to rise on the global stage, and building a compassionate, environmentally friendly society free from drugs and harmful substances I would like to remind, at this moment, that the responsibility of rebuilding this nation rests upon the entire nation, together with the government, transcending differences of ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation, and united by a strong Sri Lankan identity.
Transforming all the challenges we experienced in the past year into sources of strength, I invite you to step into 2026 with renewed energy, hope, and determination.
I extend wishes for a victorious New Year filled with peace, happiness, and prosperity.”
Latest News
58,454 International aircraft movements in Sri Lanka in first 11months of 2025 – Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation
According to figures released by the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation there have been 58,454 international aircraft movements in the first 11 months of 2025 in Sri Lanka. [An aircraft movement refers to the count of take offs and landings at an airport]
The figures also confirm that tourist arrivals via air stands at 2.1 million.
Machu Picchu train crash leaves one dead and dozens injured
I invite you to step into 2026 with renewed energy, hope, and determination – PM
Fairly heavy showers about 75 mm are likely at some places in the Central and Uva provinces and in Batticaloa and Ampara districts
National Audit Office reveals NHSL lapses
NPP’s CMC budget passed after four Opp. members switch allegiance
600MW hit to national grid as two Norochcholai units go offline
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News6 days agoStreet vendors banned from Kandy City
-
Sports3 days agoGurusinha’s Boxing Day hundred celebrated in Melbourne
-
News6 days agoLankan aircrew fly daring UN Medevac in hostile conditions in Africa
-
News1 day agoLeading the Nation’s Connectivity Recovery Amid Unprecedented Challenges
-
Sports4 days agoTime to close the Dickwella chapter
-
Features6 days agoRethinking post-disaster urban planning: Lessons from Peradeniya
-
Opinion6 days agoAre we reading the sky wrong?
-
Features2 days agoIt’s all over for Maxi Rozairo