Hanging Bridge

Victorian suspension bridge over the Machhu river

The Hanging Bridge (Jhulto Pul) over the Machhu river is Morbi's most recognisable landmark — a Victorian-era cable suspension bridge built in 1877 that became a symbol of the city. It offers good views over the river and the old town.

The bridge was damaged in the catastrophic 1979 Machhu river flood and subsequently repaired. On 30 October 2022, the bridge collapsed while crowded with visitors, killing at least 135 people in one of India's deadliest structural disasters. An investigation found serious negligence in maintenance and the repair work that had just been completed days before the collapse. The bridge was rebuilt and reopened in 2024.

things to do bridge landmark sight
A story
The Machhu river looks peaceful from this bridge, but it was the site of one of India's worst industrial disasters. On 11 August 1979, the Machhu II dam upstream collapsed after heavy monsoon rains, sending a wall of water through Morbi that killed an estimated 2,000 people (some estimates run far higher). The disaster was hushed up by state authorities for years.