An investigation has been ordered into the collapse of a bridge on the Bheri river at Surkhet district one day ago, stated a release by the Nepal Government on Wednesday.

According to the release, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has formed a committee to investigate the collapse of the suspension bridge, after which about 300 fell to the icy waters below and 15 reportedly died.  The government also announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 25,000 to the families of those killed and free treatment for the injured. The youngest body recovered from the mishap site was a five-month-old baby. On Wednesday morning, rescuers also found three people alive.

“I heard a sound like a bomb explosion,” said Rabindra Buda, who went down along with the bridge. “Then the bridge started swaying and I fell into the water below. You couldn’t see the river any more; it was full of human heads,” he said.

He also said the bridge that connected Daha Chaur village with Mehelkuna was packed with people on Tuesday.
Around 150 who were at the centre of the bridge just before it crashed are reportedly missing.

According to police, a pillar supporting the 200-metre-long bridge built last year, caved in due to a massive weight on it.