On Wednesday, a railway bridge being built across a ravine in India's Mizoram state collapsed, killing at least 17 construction workers and leaving others missing, according to officials. "Under construction railway over bridge at Sairang near Aizawl collapsed today, at least 15 workers died," Mizoram chief minister Zoramthang, who uses only one name, said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Video footage posted by Zoramthanga showed a metal frame that had toppled off towering columns into a wooded valley below.

Under construction railway over bridge at Sairang, near Aizawl collapsed today; atleast 17 workers died: Rescue under progress.

Deeply saddened and affected by this tragedy. I extend my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and wishing a speedy recovery to the… pic.twitter.com/IbmjtHSPT7 — Zoramthanga (@ZoramthangaCM) August 23, 2023

According to the police control centre, the gantry fell near a bridge in Sairang, a town outside of Aizawal, the state of Mizoram's capital. For over two years, the bridge has been under construction. Local residents reportedly came to the help of injured workers and took them to the hospital. As they arrived on the scene, rescuers from the government-run National Disaster Response Force began looking for survivors. Authorities on railroads are looking at what caused the collapse. According to the authorities, there were 40 personnel present at the time of the accident. According to a policeman mentioned in the Indian Express newspaper, 17 dead had been found and "many others" were still missing. The reports of persons going missing could not be readily confirmed. "Rescue operations are underway and all possible assistance is being given to those affected," the office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi said. Modi was "pained" by the accident and offered his "condolences to those who have lost their loved ones", his office said on X. According to the statement, the government would give $2,400 to the victims' surviving relatives. Mizoram is a state in India's far east that borders Myanmar. People had "come out in large numbers to help with rescue", Zoramthanga said, adding he was "deeply saddened and affected by this tragedy". Safety issues have long plagued India's transport network, frequently resulting in catastrophic accidents on its highways and bridges. One of the deadliest incidents in the nation in the previous ten years occurred in Gujarat, a western Indian state, in October of last year when a century-old cable suspension bridge fell into a river, sending hundreds tumbling into the water and killing at least 132 people.