On the other bank of river Machhu, as we entered a lane flanked by cow sheds, we saw a group of curious people wielding mobile phones. They dispersed somberly as I began treading the kaccha path. Behind them stood a metal structure held by two steel frame towers. Down the lane, I reached a retaining wall from where I could see the remnants of a disaster that killed 135 on October 30. Morbi will vote on December 1.

Opposite shanties was a pile of aluminium and rubber scrap, apparently the damaged part of the century-old suspension bridge that plunged many—young, old and children—to death that fateful evening, minutes after the sunset. The sun had begun to hide behind the horizon when we saw a couple of people taking pictures on their handphones. It’s almost three weeks since the tragedy struck many families during a Diwali function. The site has become a must-visit place for mediapersons and a tourism destination for travellers.