NEW DELHI At least seven people were killed and 40 others were feared trapped after a bridge collapsed in western India, officials said Friday.

The accident happened late Thursday when the bridge under construction over the Chambal river in the state of Rajasthan collapsed, local district administrator T Ravikant told AFP.

'Several injured people have been brought to hospital,' he said. 'We fear 40 people to be trapped below the debris.'

The army joined in efforts to rescue the trapped labourers and divers and welders were working at the accident site.

Kota lies around 250 kilometres from Rajasthan state capital Jaipur.