Ahmedabad: Twenty four persons, including 21 school children, were on August 28 killed and at least eight others were missing and "feared dead" when nearly 10 vehicles and pedestrians plunged into Damanganga river after a dilapidated bridge collapsed due to heavy rains in Daman and Diu.

"We have recovered 24 bodies, of which 21 are of children and two are adult males," Additional Director General of Police (Daman) R P Upadhyay said.

Upadhyay said the deceased children include 12 girls and nine boys, aged between 10-15 years and were students of Lady Fatima Convent School in Moti Daman that was connected to Nani Daman by the bridge.

"Eight people are still missing and it is feared that they might have been swept away into the Arabian Sea which is very near-by," the official said.

Nearly 25 persons were also injured, eleven of them seriously. Six of the seriously injured have been admitted to Haria hospital in neighbouring Haria town, while five have been rushed to Mumbai. Others were being treated at local hospitals in Daman.

"Rescue operations are now coming to an end as chances of finding more bodies are negligible," Upadhyay added.

PTI