In a tragic incident, one woman died and nearly 20 people were injured after an old bridge, which was used as a walkway, collapsed in Chavara in Kollam district on Monday morning.
The incident occurred around 10:30 am when a group of people entered the bridge.
The bridge was located near the Kerala Mineral and Metals (KMML). There was a protest by joint trade unions against KMML, and those injured were people who were returning after taking part in the protest.
As many as 70 people had turned up to take part in the protest, and according to reports, nearly 20 people have been injured.
The deceased has been identified as Shyamala Devi, a native of Panmana near Chavara. The 56-year-old woman had been shifted to the Taluk Hospital in Karunagappally along with the other injured people.
The injured have been admitted to the District Hospital in Kollam, apart from the nearby private hospitals and the Taluk Hospital.
The Chavara police confirmed the death of Shyamala Devi to TNM.
"One person has died and she has been identified as Shyamala Devi. The exact number of injured people is yet to be taken. We assume that it may be around 20. The bridge was an old one, but people used it as no one was aware that it was in such a precarious condition,” the police said.
The bridge was built on a national waterway. It was mostly used by KMML employees to reach its Mineral Separation Unit which is located nearby, reports say.
This is a developing story. More details are awaited.