Seven killed, three missing in Indonesia bridge collapse
Bengkulu: Seven people drowned and three others are missing after a bridge collapsed on Indonesia's Sumatra island, the disaster agency said on Monday.
Some 30 people, mostly students, were on the bridge Sunday afternoon in the town of Kaur when the newly built crossing suddenly collapsed, hurtling some teens into the water below while others clutched on to the railing.
The water level in the river below the bridge was higher than usual with strong currents after torrential downpours pounded the region.
"The bridge probably could not contain the weight and it collapsed -- seven were killed and three more are still missing," Ujang Syafiri, head of the disaster mitigation agency, told AFP Monday.
Some students who fell into the water were rescued, while a search and rescue team scoured a 20-kilometre radius to find the missing victims, all teenagers, he added.
Parts of the Southeast Asian archipelago have been deluged with torrential downpours as the rainy season kicks into high gear.
In and around the capital Jakarta, some 67 people were killed this month as record rains triggered flooding and landslides around the capital region.
Lax construction standards have raised widespread concerns about building and construction safety in Indonesia. (AFP)
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Sport must go on: Sourav Ganguly on India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash
Kolkata, Jul 27 (PTI): Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Sunday said he has no issues with India being placed in the same group as Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup, asserting that while terrorism must end, sport must continue.
As per the schedule, arch-rivals India and Pakistan are clubbed in Group A and are set to face off at the Dubai International Stadium on September 14.
"I'm okay with the schedule. Sport must continue. What happened in Pahalgam should never happen, but we can’t let that stop the game. Terrorism must end. India has taken a firm stand against it, it’s in the past now. Sport must go on," Ganguly told PTI.
The T20 tournament will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28.
India will begin their campaign against UAE on September 10 and are expected to play all their matches in Dubai. India and Pakistan could also meet again in the Super Four stage on September 21.
Group A comprises India, Pakistan, UAE and Oman, while Group B includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) will allow 17-member squads for the 19-match tournament, with matches scheduled in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
While the BCCI is the official host, the tournament is being held in the UAE as India and Pakistan have agreed to play only at neutral venues till 2027 due to ongoing cross-border tensions.
The two countries had come close to the brink of war following the Pahalgam attack, to which India responded with Operation Sindoor.
