India’s Gujarat mourns deadly bridge collapse

India's Gujarat State on Wednesday mourned the death of more than 140 people from a bridge collapse on the weekend, with the national flag at half-mast in government buildings and public functions, receptions and entertainment programmes cancelled.

Rescue workers would continue their search for any unaccounted persons for a fourth day, a government control room said, though local officials said on Tuesday that only one person was believed to be missing still.

The colonial-era suspension footbridge in Morbi town was packed with sightseers around the Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals when it gave way on Sunday evening, sending people plunging about 10 meters into the water.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has appealed to people in his state to pray for the departed souls and their families.

A senior police official said about 200 people were on the bridge when it collapsed. Local officials said tickets for about 400 people had been sold, although not necessarily to be on the bridge at the same time.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said lessons must be learned as he visited the site and met some of the injured in hospital on Tuesday.

Police have arrested nine people for the disaster.