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The bridge over the Machchhu river, a popular tourist spot, had only reopened several days earlier for the local Gujarati New Year holiday after months of repairs.

Authorities launched a rescue operation following the collapse, with boats and divers searching the river all night and this morning. P. Dekavadiya, the head of police in Morbi, said that more than 130 survivors had been rescued.

The suspension bridge, 233m long and 1.5m wide was inaugurated in 1880 by the British colonial authorities and made with materials shipped from England, reports said. The Gujarat tourist department describes the “grand suspension bridge” some 200km west of the state’s main city, Ahmedabad, as an “artistic and technological marvel”.

Sandeepsinh Jhala, Morbi municipality chief officer, said that after the recent renovation the bridge had not been issued with a safety certificate.

The district police have launched an inquiry against the contractor, Yadav said.

Reports said the work had been carried out by a unit of the Gujarat-based Oreva group, which describes itself as the world’s largest clock manufacturer and also makes lighting products and e-bikes. It could not immediately be reached for comment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was touring Gujarat, his home state, said that he “may rarely have experienced so much pain in my life.”

Moscow and New Delhi have enjoyed close relations for decades and the Kremlin said in a statement that Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences.

Accidents from old and poorly maintained infrastructure including bridges are common in India. In 2016 the collapse of a flyover onto a busy street in Kolkata killed at least 26 people.

Five years earlier at least 32 people perished when a packed bridge collapsed in the hill resort of Darjeeling.