Morphy: The death toll has risen to 141 in the suspension bridge collapse accident in Morbi, Gujarat.
Morbi Nagar is located in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. During the British rule in 1889, a suspension bridge was built across the Machu River by King Vakji Tagore. 233 meters long, 1.25 meters wide, the bridge was built in European style. This bridge connecting Dharbargarh Palace and Lakhtirji College of Engineering has been reconstructed several times.
The Morbi Municipal Corporation awarded a contract to maintain the bridge for 15 years to Oriva, a private company, in March last year. The company undertook renovation work at a cost of Rs.2 crore. Last Oct. On the 26th, the suspension bridge was reopened on Gujarat New Year’s Day.
Last Sunday being a holiday, many parents came with their children to see the bridge. A fee of Rs 17 is charged for adults and Rs 12 for children to walk on the suspension bridge. Desperate for higher revenue, employees of Oriva Company, which has the bridge maintenance contract, allowed a large number of visitors on the bridge. By 6.30 pm that evening, more than 500 people were standing on the bridge. Suddenly, the bridge collapsed without bearing the load. Everyone standing on the bridge fell into the river.
Garuda soldiers of the Air Force, Navy personnel, National and State Disaster Response Force, Firefighters, Police and local people joined together in the rescue operation. The bodies of 60 people, including 25 children, were recovered on the first day. Another 81 bodies were found yesterday. Subsequently, the death toll has risen to 141. More than 50 of them are children.
Also, more than 150 people were injured. About 100 people have been rescued with minor injuries. Many more are missing. Rescue operations are ongoing as they may be trapped deep in the river.
Only 100 people are allowed on this bridge at a time. But, as more than 500 people were standing on the bridge, the bridge fell without bearing the load.
In this regard, IAS officer Rajkumar, senior engineer KM Patel, Ahmedabad L.E. The state government has appointed a high-level inquiry team comprising engineering college professor Gopal, road and construction department officer Sandeep Vasava and IPS officer Subhash Trivedi. The state government has said that further action will be taken based on the report of the committee.
Police Department I.G. Ashok Yadav said, “We have arrested 9 people including 2 managers of Oriva company, 2 engineers who reconstructed the bridge, 3 security guards and 2 ticket distribution employees.”
Consultancy headed by Prime Minister: Meanwhile, a high-level meeting was held yesterday at the Governor’s House in Gandhi Nagar, the capital of Gujarat, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In this, a detailed consultation was held on Morbi suspension bridge accident and rescue operations.