India: Deadly bridge collapse in Varanasi May 15

Event

On Tuesday, May 15, a bridge that had been under construction collapsed in the city of Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh state), killing at least 18 people. Dozens others are feared trapped under debris and rescue operations are ongoing as of Wednesday afternoon (local time).

Context

Building and bridge collapses are not unusual in India, especially during rainy season when adverse weather conditions exert strong pressure on poorly-constructed infrastructure. This incident follows days of thunderstorms and sandstorms in the area, which have caused severe damages in the state and killed scores of people.

Advice

Individuals present in Varanasi are advised to avoid the area of the incident until the situation stabilizes.