Fifty feared dead in Nepal bridge collapse

Authorities sharply reduced the number of people missing and feared dead after a steel footbridge collapsed in western Nepal as hundreds of police, soldiers and villagers searched an icy river for survivors today.

With at least 15 people confirmed dead, hopes were dimming that more survivors would be pulled from the treacherous mountain river with a strong current, officials said.

But they said that only about 50 people were now considered missing, down from the more than 100 people estimated earlier.

Authorities believe some 500 people travelling to a village fair were crossing the Bheri River on the bridge in Chunchu village when its support cables snapped under the weight.

Rescuers had recovered 15 bodies by last night and 32 people who were seriously injured were flown to hospitals.

Five of the critically injured were flown to Kathmandu for treatment at a military hospital. Most appeared to have head injuries and broken bones.

“Most people did not know what happened. The bridge collapsed and most people on the crowded bridge fell in the river. The bridge was on top of me and my leg was caught. My friends pulled me out and saved me,” said Durga Bika, 20, from his hospital bed in Kathmandu.

Bika said he saw some people swim to safety while others were rescued by villagers.

Chunchu is located about 310 miles west of Kathmandu in a remote part of Nepal where there are few paved roads. Most people travel by foot or cart.

A police official said the 400ft long bridge was built this year but that it was not designed to hold the weight of so many people crossing at once.