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Tag: morbi bridge

  • Morbi bridge collapse: Oreva manager says ‘will of God’ led to the incident

    Morbi bridge collapse: Oreva manager says ‘will of God’ led to the incident

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    A manager of Oreva Group told the court that the Morbi bridge tragedy was the “will of God”. Deepak Parekh, who is a manager in the company, told the Chief Judicial Magistrate and Additional Senior Civil Judge M J Khan that it was the “will of God (bhagwan ki ichcha) that such an unfortunate event happened”. 

    Meanwhile, the lawyer appearing for the government informed the court that it was rather the worn-out cables, which were not changed during the renovation, that gave way. He told the court that the reason behind the collapse was that the aluminum base was replaced with the wooden base, which was lighter than the former.

    The Morbi and Rajkot Bar Association has stated that they will not represent the accused in the Morbi collapse case. 

    The company had signed a 15-year contract till March 2037 with the municipal corporation for the operation and maintenance of the bridge. The Morbi suspension bridge, also known as the ‘Jhoolta pul’, was built more than a century ago. It was shut for renovation for a few months, before being reopened for the public five days before the tragedy took place, leading to the death of as many as 141 people. 

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting on Monday evening, urging the authorities to offer any assistance possible to the affected. The Prime Minister visited the site of the accident on Tuesday and directed a detailed probe into the matter. 

    The Supreme Court will also hear a plea demanding the constitution of a judicial commission on November 14. 

    Also read: Bridge collapse: Morbi admin hides Oreva hoarding ahead of PM Modi’s visit

    Also read: ‘Extensive inquiry needed’: PM Modi on suspension bridge collapse in Gujarat’s Morbi

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  • ‘Extensive inquiry needed’: PM Modi on suspension bridge collapse in Gujarat’s Morbi

    ‘Extensive inquiry needed’: PM Modi on suspension bridge collapse in Gujarat’s Morbi

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    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chaired another meeting to review the situation in Gujarat’s Morbi and said that a detailed and extensive inquiry was needed to find out all the aspects related to the accident.

    A British-era suspension bridge on the Machchhu river in Morbi collapsed on Sunday, killing 135 people. The bridge was maintained by a private group, Oreva – which is known for making wall clocks by the name of Ajanta.

    Following the collapse, the company’s role has come under the scanner.  

    Today, PM Modi chaired a meeting in Morbi and said: “The need of the hour is to conduct a detailed and extensive inquiry which will identify all aspects relating to this mishap.”

    The Prime Minister also added that the key learnings from the inquiry must be implemented at the earliest. He said the authorities must stay in touch with the affected families and ensure that they receive all possible help in this tragic hour.

    Earlier today, the Prime Minister visited the accident site and went to the local hospital where the injured are recovering. He also interacted with those involved in rescue and relief work and lauded their fortitude.

    Oreva, who is at the center of the storm, had opened the bridge just days before the accident. The bridge was shut for renovation and the company was given 8-12 months time to complete the work.

    However, the company inaugurated the bridge to the public five months before the deadline. The local civic body now claims that the company did not secure a clearance certificate before opening it to the public.    

    The Gujarat Police have so far nine people including the managers of Oreva. 

     

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  • No lessons learnt after Morbi: Tourists drive car on hanging bridge meant for two-wheelers in Karnataka

    No lessons learnt after Morbi: Tourists drive car on hanging bridge meant for two-wheelers in Karnataka

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    Just two days after a suspension bridge collapsed in Gujarat, some tourists were seen driving a car on a similar hanging bridge, meant for two-wheelers, near Yellapura town in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. 

    The incident happened on the Shivapura suspension bridge, which is 5 km from Sathodi falls – a popular tourist destination in Uttara Kannada.  

    The bridge, which connects Yallapur to Uluvi and Dandeli, is meant for pedestrians and two-wheelers. However, a video has surfaced in which a group of people can be seen driving a Maruti car on the bridge. But they could not get to the other side as the car was stuck right in the middle. 

    It can be seen in the video that the car could not move as there was barely any space on either side. Also, some locals noticed the car and immediately alerted the official. 

    Reports suggest that the locals forced the car driver to move back. The car driver claimed that he wasn’t aware that the bridge was meant for two-wheelers. He saw bikes traveling and assumed cars could cross too.

    This comes just two days after a British-era suspension bridge collapsed in Gujarat’s Morbi, claiming 135 lives. The bridge in Morbi was inaugurated just a few days before the tragic incident. 

    As the video of the collapse went viral, some people on social media pointed out that the crowd was huge and they were shaking the bridge which might have contributed to the collapse besides other factors like negligence.

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  • Morbi bridge tragedy: PM Modi reviews rescue ops; state to observe one-day mourning on Nov 2

    Morbi bridge tragedy: PM Modi reviews rescue ops; state to observe one-day mourning on Nov 2

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    Prime Minister Narendra Modi today chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation in Morbi, where a suspension bridge collapse killed 141 people on Sunday. During the meeting, Modi was briefed on the rescue and relief operations that have been underway ever since the unfortunate mishap took place in Morbi. All aspects relating to the tragedy were discussed, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

    The high-level meeting was attended by CM Bhupendra Bhai Patel, MoS Home Harsh Sanghavi, the Chief Secretary and DGP of Gujarat, along with other top officials including from the Home Department of the State and Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority.

    After the meeting, the chief minister said that the government has decided to observe a state-wide mourning in Gujarat on November 2.

    In a tragic incident, the Morbi bridge collapsed on Sunday evening, just four days after it was opened after renovation. The tragic incident brought the spotlight on the company involved in the maintenance and upkeep of the said bridge.

    The company, Oreva Group, had opened the bridge to the public five months prior to its scheduled opening. The company was given a deadline of 8-12 months to finish the suspension bridge’s maintenance and cleaning.

    Earlier in the day, the Rajkot Police informed that nine people have been arrested in the bridge collapse incident. Those arrested include the managers of Oreva company and ticket clerks. Rajkot range IG Ashok Yadav said that among the nine people arrested are two managers of Oreva company, two ticket clerks, two contractors, and three security guards.
     

    Also read: Morbi bridge collapse: Company in the eye of the storm is the owner of famous wall clock brands Ajanta and Orpat

    Also read: Morbi bridge collapse: US, Russia, Poland, Nepal, others condole tragedy

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  • Morbi bridge collapse: All you need to know about the suspension bridge in Gujarat

    Morbi bridge collapse: All you need to know about the suspension bridge in Gujarat

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    A hanging bridge collapsed in Gujarat’s Morbi district on Sunday evening, killing over 141 people and injuring several others. Around 300 people were reportedly present around the bridge at the time of the collapse due to Chhath Puja. People jumped off the bridge and pulled its wires at the time of the incident. 

    The 230-metre bridge was built in the 19th century during British India and inaugurated on February 20, 1879. The bridge is located around 300 km from the capital city Gandhinagar. It was closed for renovation for six months. Its description on the district collectorate website stated the suspension bridge was said to reflect “the progressive and scientific nature of the rulers of Morbi.” 

    A private operator named Oreva carried out the repair work of the bridge for nearly six months before it was reopened for the public on October 26. 

    Morbi Municipality’s chief officer Sandeepsinh Zala told news agency PTI, “The bridge was given to Oreva company for operation and maintenance for 15 years. In March this year, it was closed for the public for renovation. It reopened after renovation on the Gujarati New Year day celebratd on October 26.”

    The local municipality authorities, however, did not issue a fitness certificate or other requisite permissions after the renovation work was completed. 

    An FIR has been lodged under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (intentional act causing death) and 114 (abettor present when offence committed), according to Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi. He further said that a high-powered committee will carry out a probe in the incident. 

    Commenting on the rescue operations, the Gujarat Information Department said in a statement, “More than 100 deaths have been reported till early morning. Around 177 people have been rescued, 19 people are under treatment. The Army, Navy, Air Force, NDRF, Fire Brigade are conducting search operations.”

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cancelled his road show in Ahmedabad whereas Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal canceled all his events in the state. The Congress also postponed its Gujarat Parivartan Sankalp Yatra in five zones of the poll-bound state. 

    (With agency inputs)

    Also read: Gujarat bridge collapse: 141 people dead; PM Modi offers ex-gratia to kin of deceased

    Also read: Morbi bridge collapse live updates: PM Modi cancels road show; probe initiated as 141 die

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  • Gujarat bridge collapse: PM announces ex-gratia for victims, Amit Shah says NDRF reaching soon

    Gujarat bridge collapse: PM announces ex-gratia for victims, Amit Shah says NDRF reaching soon

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    Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of each of those who died in a bridge collapse in Gujarat’s Morbi city. According to the local officials, nearly century-old suspension bridge collapsed on Sunday evening in Gujarat’s Morbi and several people standing on it fell into the river.

    The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), in a series of tweets, said, ”PM Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF (Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund) for the next of kin of each of those who lost their lives in the mishap in Morbi. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000.”

    At least 32 people died after the suspension bridge collapse on the Machchhu river. Several people standing on the bridge fell into the river, officials added.

    The prime minister also spoke with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other officials regarding the incident and sought urgent mobilisation of teams for rescue operations.

    PM Modi also asked that the situation be closely and continuously monitored, and all possible help be extended to those affected.

    In addition to this, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will soon reach the site of a suspension bridge collapse.

    “I am deeply saddened by the accident in Morbi. I have spoken to Harsh Sanghvi, Minister of State for Home, Gujarat and other officials in this regard,” said Shah. He further added that the administration has promptly carried out rescue and relief work.

    “Local administration is engaged in relief work with full readiness, NDRF is also reaching the spot soon. The administration has been directed to provide immediate treatment to the injured,” Shah tweeted in Hindi.

    The bridge, which was recently reopened for the public after renovation, collapsed as it could not bear the weight of the people standing on it, the officials said.

    (With inputs from PTI)

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