Vadodara (Gujarat) [India], July 10 (ANI): The operation of rescue and relief at the site of the Gambhira bridge collapse incident in Vadodara, Gujarat is in its closing stages.

Commandant Surinder Singh, from National Defence Rescue Force (NDRF) Commandant, on Thursday, said that in total two teams and a sub-team have been at the site and are working on the rescue operation.

'Yesterday, District Administration informed us of this around 9 am, they demanded one team of the NDRF to retrieve the victims. So, we sent one team here. We started our rescue operations as soon as we reached here. We assessed that one team won't be enough and we would need more teams. So, we deputed one more team. Later one more sub-team was deployed. So, two teams and one sub-team are here,' said Surinder Singh.

Adding further, Singh said, 'We are continuing the rescue operation. So far,13 bodies and 5 live victims have been retrieved. Our priority is to check the area at the earliest and retrieve bodies as well as live victims. We will try to finish the operation by this afternoon.'

A section of the Gambhira bridge connecting to Vadodara and Anand collapsed a day ago and fell into the Mahisagar river below.

The rescue operation continued this morning and Vadodara District Collector Anil Dhameliya visited the site on Thursday.

The Collector and other officials of the local administration have been visiting and taking stock of the relief and rescue operations on site of collapse since Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of the deceased in the bridge collapse. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families of those who died in the bridge collapse in Vadodara. He also announced Rs 50,000 for the injured. (ANI)