No fewer than 26 people working on a railway bridge being built across a ravine in northeastern India were killed and two others injured when it collapsed on Wednesday.

Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga, disclosed this on its X social media platform, stating that the incident occurred near Sairang, about 20km (12 miles) from Mizoram’s state capital, Aizawl.

Local media report that up to 40 workers were at the site when the bridge collapsed but police said 28 workers were present.

A state police official who do not want his name mentioned said: “Rescue workers have been able to recover 13 bodies so far. Efforts are on to recover the remaining bodies.”

The prime minister, Narendra Modi, said “all possible assistance” was being given to those affected.

Recall that last year October, more than 140 people were killed in Gujarat when a pedestrian suspension bridge collapsed in India’s western state of Gujarat.