New Delhi: Gujarat today (November 2) is observing state-wide mourning for the 135 people who died when a colonial-era suspension bridge on the Machchhu river collapsed in the Morbi on October 30. The bridge had been opened five days prior to the incident after remaining closed for repairs for seven months and now, the public prosecutor has told the court that the contractors tasked with the repair work were “not qualified” for the job.
There is as yet no word of the police seeking to uncover how unqualified entities and persons were given the repair contract this year, and also in 2007, when the bridge was last repaired.
On Monday, the police had booked nine people in connection with the case under Section 304 of the IPC (Culpable homicide not amounting to murder). Thereafter, on Tuesday, four accused in the case were arrested and produced before the court of chief judicial magistrate M.J. Khan, who remanded them to police custody until Saturday, November 5.
These included two managers – Dipak Parekh and Dinesh Dave – of the OREVA group, which had been looking after the maintenance of the bridge for the last 15 years, as well as contractors Prakash Parmar and Devang Parmar who had reportedly carried out the recent repairs on the bridge.
Also read: Morbi Bridge Collapse: Xi, Putin, Biden And Other Leaders Send Condolence Messages
The bridge had remained closed for repairs for seven months and been reopened to the public only five days before the incident took place. An official quoted by PTI had said that the bridge had been opened despite not having got a “fitness certificate” from the municipality.
The bridge was reportedly packed with people when it collapsed, well beyond its carrying capacity.
During the hearing, public prosecutor H.S. Panchal told the court, citing a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report, that the main cable of the bridge had snapped because of the weight of the new flooring, made of “four-layer aluminium sheets”. Further, the cables of the bridge had not been replaced during the repair process.
According to a report in the Indian Express, P.A. Zala, Morbi superintendent of police (SP) had told the court, “…had the cable been repaired, this incident would not have happened”. However, Oreva manager Parekh had told the court that the unfortunate incident happened because it was the “will of god”.
Zala further said that no record was kept of what work was done or how it was done, during the repair period. “Without determining permissible capacity, and without government approval, the bridge was opened on October 26,” the Express quoted Zala as saying.
Speaking to reporters, Panchal also noted that the contractors were “not qualified” to carry out the repair work but were still given the work in 2007 and again in 2022. “So the accused’s custody was needed to find out what was the reason for choosing them and at whose instance they were chosen,” PTI quoted Panchal as saying.
Further, Gujarat’s Rajkot Bar Association has controversially passed a unanimous resolution not to represent the accused in the case, Live Law reported.
The other five individuals arrested – including a security guard and ticket booking clerks – were remanded to judicial custody by the court as the police did not seek their custody.
Flags were flown at half-mast, an official said, adding that no official or entertainment event will be held today. This decision to observe state-wide mourning was taken on Monday in a review meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The prime minister on Tuesday had also called for a “detailed and extensive” inquiry into the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy. “Key learnings from the inquiry must be implemented at the earliest and authorities must stay in touch with the affected families and ensure they receive all possible help in this tragic hour,” news agency PTI quoted him as saying.
His remarks had come during a high-level meeting attended by chief minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat minister of state for home Harsh Sanghavi, local MLA and minister Brijesh Merja, state chief secretary Pankaj Kumar and state director general of police Ashish Bhatia, among others.
Prior to the meeting, Prime Minister Modi had visited the site of the tragedy and went to the local hospital where the injured were recovering.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets a victim injured after an old suspension bridge over the Machchhu river collapsed on Sunday evening, at Civil Hospital in Morbi district, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. Photo: PTI.
Also read: Congress, AAP Express Outrage As Morbi Hospital Gets ‘Makeover’ Ahead Of PM’s Visit
According to Gujarat minister Rajendra Trivedi, 170 people were rescued after the bridge collapse and only 17 of them had to undergo treatment. The prime minister also interacted with those involved in the relief work.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets personnel involved in rescue operations after an old suspension bridge over the Machchhu river collapsed on Sunday evening, in Morbi district, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. Photo: PTI.
“The kin of all the deceased have already been paid a compensation of Rs 4 lakh, each as announced by the Gujarat government. A compensation of Rs 2 lakh announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be deposited soon into their bank accounts through DBT (direct bank transfer),” Trivedi told reporters in state capital Gandhinagar.
(With PTI inputs)