Nine people arrested in connection with deadly weekend bridge collapse in India, report

Nine people in India were reportedly arrested Monday in connection with the collapse of a foot bridge this past weekend in which 134 people were killed.

Prior to the incident Sunday in Morbi, closed-circuit TV footage showed some young men trying to rock the suspension bridge from side to side before cables gave way and the bridge collapsed into the Machchhu River, according to Reuters.

The colonial-era bridge, which reportedly was recently renovated, was at the time of the incident packed with sightseers enjoying holiday festivities.

"There were about 15-20 boys aged between 20-25 years who were shaking the bridge," a witness told Reuters TV partner ANI. "We heard some sounds three times, and the sixth time the cable (of the bridge) suddenly snapped."

There is no indication so far that the young males were among those arrested.

A senior police official said nine people have been arrested, including managerial staff, ticketing clerks and three security guards, for failing to regulate crowds before the bridge crumpled, the wire service also reports.

Two people awarded a contact to repair the structure, originally built in 1877, were among those reportedly arrested, with arrests likely.