Hundreds plunge into river after India bridge collapses

[ex-q-zit]

Hundreds plunge into river after India bridge collapses

At least 32 people have died after a bridge collapsed in India's western state of Gujarat, officials say.

Hundreds have been plunged into River Macchu in Morbi town. Local footage shows people hanging off the partly-submerged suspension bridge.

Reports say as many as 400 people were on the structure at the time. Authorities said rescue efforts were under way.

It comes just days after the bridge was reopened following repairs.

The 230-metre-long (754 feet) colonial-era bridge was built during British rule of India in the 19th Century.

Videos show scenes of chaos as onlookers attempt to rescue those trapped in the water as darkness fell.

Another video shows people climbing up netted wire remains of the bridge to escape the water.

Emergency responders from neighbouring districts have been sent to the scene to help with rescue efforts.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in his home state of Gujarat on a three-day visit, said he was "deeply saddened by the tragedy".

Mr Modi has announced compensation for the injured, as well as the next of kin of those who have died.

BBC

 

[SalimBhai]

Condolences

 

[Champ_Pal]

RIP.

British Era bridge

 

[DeadlyVenom]

inna lilahi wa inna ilyhi rajioon

So soon after the South Korean tragedy. What a heart breaking weekend.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Tragic. Condolences to the families.

 

[MenInG]

Ahmedabad: A British-era bridge in Gujarat's Morbi has collapsed just a week after renovation, killing at least 91 people. Search is on for over 100 others, who have fallen into the river. The government accepts responsibility for the tragedy, a minister said.

Here are the Top 10 points in this big story:
The suspension bridge collapsed at 6.42 this evening when around 500 people had congregated on it to perform some rituals in connection with the Chhath puja. Daytime videos from the spot over the weekend showed the bridge rocking dangerously as people walked across.

According to reports, around 100 people are still feared trapped in the waters of the Macchu river. Videos from the spot showed many struggling in the water, trying to reach the bank in darkness.

Many of the dead are women and children, locals say. Seventy people have been rescued and admitted in hospital. The rescue work is being hampered by the absence of light, officials said.

The cable bridge in Morbi -- nearly 150 years old and a popular tourist spot -- was closed for seven months for renovation work. It was reopened to the public on October 26, the Gujarati New Year.

"Renovation happened last week. We are also shocked. We are looking into the matter… The government takes responsibility for this tragedy," Brijesh Merja, Gujarat's minister for Labour and Employment, told NDTV in an exclusive interview.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in Gujarat today, tweeted, "I am deeply saddened by the tragedy at Morbi. Talked to Gujarat Chief Minister Shri [MENTION=144241]Bhupendra[/MENTION]pbjp and other officials about this. Relief and rescue operations are going on in full swing and all necessary assistance is being provided to the affected".

"I express my condolences to the families of the citizens who lost their lives in the tragedy of Morbi. The state government will provide ₹ 4 lakh to the family of each deceased and ₹ 50,000 to the injured," tweeted Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. A compensation of ₹ 2 lakh has been announced from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the families of the victims.

With the bridge collapse coming ahead of the assembly elections in the state, the Congress and Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party have blamed the BJP for the tragedy. The Congress has demanded an investigation, claiming that the bridge did not get a clearance for reopening from the city's civic body.

The focus right now needs to be on relief and rescue but a probe is required and accountability needs to be fixed, said AAP's Atishi. "Gujarat has just recovered from the hooch tragedy in which over 100 died and now this. The Gujarat government has to answer," she added.

"The bridge was given to Oreva company for operation and maintenance for 15 years. In March, it was closed for renovation," the Chief Officer of Morbi Municipality, Sandeepsinh Zala, was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India. "It was opened to the public after the completion of the renovation work. But the local municipality had not yet issued any fitness certificate (after the renovation work)," he said.

 

[MenInG]

From above:


"I express my condolences to the families of the citizens who lost their lives in the tragedy of Morbi. The state government will provide ₹ 4 lakh to the family of each deceased and ₹ 50,000 to the injured," tweeted Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. A compensation of ₹ 2 lakh has been announced from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the families of the victims.


Is this money reasonable? Seems low?

 

[MenInG]

At least 81 people have died after a suspension bridge collapsed in India.

Government officials confirmed the death toll after scores of people plunged into the river below following the collapse.

The footbridge over the Machhu river in the town of Morbi in India's western Gujarat state collapsed on Sunday, just days after being reopened following renovations.

Authorities said more than 150 people were on the suspension bridge at the time.

https://news.sky.com/story/india-br...ead-after-hundreds-plunge-into-river-12734259

 

[James]

A dreadful event in this world once again.

RIP to all those lost.

 

[pillionrider]

Shameful that the usual bunch are avoiding this.

Why?

Happened in Gujarat where the BJP is in power and the bridge had reopened after supposed repairs. But PM Modi decided to continue his campaign in the state because it's 'his duty' apparently.

How many more lives must be lost to their incompetence and shoddy corrupt work like during COVID or the recent highways in UP that came apart a day after inauguration.

 

[MenInG]

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday raised questions about the collapse of the Morbi bridge in Gujarat, which has claimed more than 130 lives. “Last week, the bridge reopened after repairs, and it has now collapsed. What is the reason behind it?” he asked while speaking to reporters. The overcrowded suspension bridge in Morbi came crashing down on Sunday evening within moments, five days after it had reopened following repairs. A high-level probe has been ordered into the incident, the state government has said.

“Everything into this should be investigated, if possible, under a panel headed by a judge of the high court or the Supreme Court. Secondly, compensation should be offered to families of those who have died and people who have been injured,” Kharge, who took charge as the Congress chief last week, said on Monday. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot among other leaders would be reaching Morbi to offer help, he highlighted.

“We don’t want to do any politics in this. We don’t want to blame anybody right now,” Kharge pointed out. “When the inquiry report comes, we will see when that happens. I offer my condolences for the deaths.”

Earlier on Monday morning. Congress members had offered two minutes of silence for those who died in Morbi while also paying tributes to Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel on his birth anniversary. "54th day of #BharatJodoYatra began at Shadnagar at 530am. Bharat Yatris paid floral tributes to Sardar Patel & Indira Gandhi, and then observed 2 minute silence in memory of those who died in the Morbi suspension bridge tragedy in Gujarat. (sic)," Jairam Ramesh tweeted.

Meanwhile, rescue and relief operations continue at the accident site.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...harge-on-gujarat-tragedy-101667194954611.html

 

[MenInG]

New Delhi: The bridge that collapsed in Gujarat's Morbi yesterday, killing more than 140 people, was opened to the public ahead of schedule by the private company hired for its maintenance, documents reveal.

According to the contract between the Morbi municipal body and Ajanta Manufacturing Private Limited, accessed by NDTV, the bridge had to be shut for at least eight to 12 months for maintenance and repairs.

But the historic colonial-era bridge was thrown open to the public within seven months, on October 26, when the Gujarati New Year is celebrated. The company did not take a fitness certificate from the civic authorities, which Morbi municipal agency chief Sandipsinh Zala confirmed to NDTV on Sunday.

Ajanta, a clockmaker, is part of the Oreva Group, which sold tickets for the bridge at ₹ 17 apiece.

Apart from the early reopening, every safety rule was broken.

There were close to 500 people on the "hanging bridge" when the cables snapped on Sunday evening, sending hundreds tumbling into the river. The bridge could take the weight of only about 125 people, according to officials. The crowd included women performing Chhath puja rituals, and scores of children.

Though tickets were sold, there was no apparent crowd control, either by the private company or by the administration. There was allegedly no cap on the number of people on the suspension bridge, which is listed as a popular tourist site in an official Gujarat government website.

Ajanta, a company known as a clockmaker, signed a 15-year contract with the Morbi municipal body to maintain the bridge and collect payment in the form of tickets.

The agreement was discussed in January 2020 and the deal was signed in March this year.

According to the agreement that is valid till 2037, the company would raise the ticket price every year.

It is not clear how the bridge was reopened to people without any apparent official approval.

Gujarat Minister Harsh Sanghavi evaded NDTV's questions on the bridge operating without a fitness certificate.

The Gujarat government has appointed a committee to investigate the bridge collapse and the factors leading up to it.

"Rarely have I felt such pain," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referring to the tragedy at an event in Gujarat this morning.

NDTV

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

How many crores did these guys spend on that statue? And how many was spent on this bridge?

 

[Varun]

How many crores did these guys spend on that statue? And how many was spent on this bridge?

And the money spent on this bridge was by the British ages ago, not even by Modi and the bhakts.

 

[MP2011]

So since these incidents happen in developed countries too, so its ok to have people die in India as well!

Besides, developed countries don't open not ready facilities meant for public use well ahead of schedule just to garner some more votes in upcoming elections!

What's even more shocking is that they even charged a fee to go on that bridge! Have any explanation for that?

 

[MP2011]

How many crores did these guys spend on that statue? And how many was spent on this bridge?

₹27 billion (US$422 million).

 

[MP2011]

How many crores did these guys spend on that statue? And how many was spent on this bridge?

This was what could have been built had those 3000 crores been wisely spent by feku,

Over eight times the amount (Rs 365 crore) allotted to Gujarat by the central government in 2017-18 under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (National Agriculture Development Scheme) as well as nearly five times the amount (Rs 602 crore) approved by the state government for 56 new schemes and 32 continuous projects under the scheme.

More than double the estimated cost (Rs 1,090 crore) of two water pipeline projects. Firstly, a project based on the Kadana reservoir that will irrigate 10,000 hectare in Dahod and Mahisagar districts. Second, the Dinod-Boridra lift irrigation project which will provide irrigation to 1,800 hectare within Surat district.

More than double the estimated amount (Rs 1,114 crore) for proposals submitted to the central government by the Gujarat government to include in Pradhanmantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (Prime Ministers Agriculture Irrigation Scheme). The projects will irrigate 40,192 hectares of land, cover the repair, renovation & restoration of 162 minor irrigation schemes and the construction of 425 small check-dams.

The statue construction cost could build:
Two new IIT campuses (considering one IIT campus costs Rs 1,167 crore).

Two AIIMS campuses (considering one AIIMS cost Rs 1,103 crore).

Five new permanent IIM campuses (considering one IIM campus costs Rs 539 crore).

Five new solar power plants, each producing 75 megawatts of power (considering one power plant costs Rs 528 crore).

Six Mars missions (considering one mission costs Rs 450 crore) and three Chandrayaan-2 (Moon) missions (considering one mission costs Rs 800 crore) by the Indian Space Research Organisation.

 

[PakLFC]

This bridge had supposedly been repaired very recently. I say make the so called engineers responsible for this tragedy. For heaven sake who qualified them as being engineers in the first place. What makes my blood boil is how they are dismissive about such things just shrugging their shoulders as it being one of those things.

 

[PakLFC]

And the money spent on this bridge was by the British ages ago, not even by Modi and the bhakts.

What? The bridge had just been repaired recently. Gives Rahul Gandhi another reason to lay in to Modi.

 

[sweep_shot]

Tragic incident.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun.

 

[MenInG]

A day after more than 130 people died in a bridge collapse in Gujarat's Morbi, nine people have been arrested. Among them are managers of Oreva, the company that renovated the bridge, ticket collectors, bridge repair contractors and three security guards whose job was to control the crowds.

Gujarat-based Oreva has been accused of violating multiple safety rules, leading to the huge tragedy just four days after the bridge reopened to the public. But none of its top bosses have been arrested. "We won't let the guilty get away, we won't spare anyone," Morbi police chief Ashok Yadav said today.

Soon after signing a 15-year deal with the Morbi civic body, Oreva, a watchmaker, allegedly outsourced the "technical aspect of the bridge renovation" to a smaller company with an unknown record, Devprakash Solutions.

Oreva was hired for repair work on the historic colonial-era bridge in March. The bridge was reopened to the public seven months later, on October 26, when the Gujarati New Year was celebrated. The company was bound by its contract to keep the bridge shut for at least eight to 12 months for maintenance and repairs. It was a "seriously irresponsible and careless gesture" to open the bridge last week, the police said in an FIR that doesn't name anyone.

Those assigned the repair, maintenance and management of the bridge "did not do the repair/maintenance work" appropriately, the FIR said. They "did not conduct a proper quality check" but were aware of the possibly fatal dangers, it added.

Tickets were sold for ₹ 12 to ₹ 17 yesterday to nearly 500 people, officials said, which resulted in overcrowding on the "hanging bridge", causing the old metal cables to give way. A few on the bridge were seen in CCTV footage rocking the bridge, which could take the weight of only about 125 people.

The contract allowed the company to raise the ticket prices every year till 2037.

While reopening the bridge last week, Oreva Managing Director Jaysukhbhai Patel had told reporters that the company had completed "100 per cent renovation with two crores".

He also claimed that the renovated bridge would sustain for "eight to 10 years". It did not last even a week.

Mr Patel's own words raised questions about how strong the bridge was. "We also don't want to overwhelm the sturdiness of the bridge, so to limit the amount of entry and the crowd, we will charge for an entry," he had said, explaining why the company was selling tickets.

The company also said it is considering requests to open the bridge at night for two hours.

News agency PTI quoted a group spokesperson as stating that the bridge collapsed as "too many people in the mid-section of the bridge were trying to sway it from one way to the other."

NDTV

 

[Champ_Pal]

This bridge had supposedly been repaired very recently. I say make the so called engineers responsible for this tragedy. For heaven sake who qualified them as being engineers in the first place. What makes my blood boil is how they are dismissive about such things just shrugging their shoulders as it being one of those things.

Most probably incompetent Government employees.

All bridges that are more than 100 years old must be automatically destroyed before any disaster happens.

 

[PakLFC]

Most probably incompetent Government employees.

All bridges that are more than 100 years old must be automatically destroyed before any disaster happens.

Poor countries with massive populations don't have the money to build new bridges. The money goes in the pockets of corrupt politicians.

 

[JaDed]

Many people are missing this

"It comes just days after the bridge was reopened following repairs."

That company should be fired if it was Govn agency then they should be suspended.

Condolences to everyone.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT – Video footage shows sightseers packed onto a footbridge in the Indian town of Morbi as the recently-renovated bridge plunged into the Machchhu River <a href="https://t.co/hbfTjL4367">https://t.co/hbfTjL4367</a> <a href="https://t.co/QkJeuKVZCV">pic.twitter.com/QkJeuKVZCV</a></p>— Reuters (@Reuters) <a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1587022819908636673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[cricketjoshila]

A very tragic incident. Oreva group, the company that had the maintenance and ticket contract must be criminally prosecuted fo this.

Those talking about sabotage, well its the government's job to provide safety as well.

 

[MP2011]

Kolkata: In the aftermath of the bridge collapse in Gujarat's Morbi that killed over 130 people, an old video of the Prime Minister while campaigning for the BJP in 2016 where he is targeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has gone viral with Opposition parties asking him to hold his own party's government in Gujarat accountable to the same standards.

In 2016, after the Vivekananda Road flyover had collapsed right before the Bengal Assembly elections, the PM had targeted Mamata Banerjee, calling it an "act of fraud".

"Such a huge bridge came crashing down, and what did these people say? They say it's an act of God. Didi, this is not an act of God, this is an act of fraud. This is the result of the act of fraud. It's definitely an act of God to the extent that it came down during elections and people got to know what kind of government you have been running. It is a message from God to the people that today the bridge has come down and tomorrow Bengal will be finished," the PM had said.

Calling the West Bengal Chief Minister "shameless", the PM had said she would have gladly cut the ribbon and claimed credit for the flyover on successful completion but is blaming it on the Left because it collapsed.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/opp...ge-tragedy-3476739#pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

 

[MenInG]

On Sunday evening, Chirag Mucchadiya, 20, and his brothers, Dharmik, 17, and Chetan, 15 went on an outing.

They told their mother Kantaben they were going to "julto pul", or hanging bridge - a historic colonial era suspension footbridge, which had reopened just a few days earlier, after months of repairs.

It was the week of Diwali festivities. Schools were off, and many families had the same idea as Chirag and his brothers.

They bought a ticket -17 rupees ($0.21) for adults and 12 for children - and walked across the 230-metre (755ft) bridge.

Short presentational grey line
Nitin Kavaiya was also there, along with his wife, and his two daughters - one aged seven, and the other a seven-month old infant.

The family posed for photos, including selfies. At around 18:30 local time they got off the bridge and sat on one of the banks of the Macchu river.

"It was very crowded on the bridge. I think there might have been 400-500 people on it," says Nitin.

"I went and told the people selling tickets that they should reduce the crowds. I don't know what they did about it."

Ten minutes later, as he bent down to give his baby daughter a sip of water, he heard the sound of shouting and screaming.

The bridge had snapped, closer to the other edge of the shore, its metal walkway dangling on both sides.

"I saw people slipping into the water and they didn't surface after that," he says. "Others were clinging on to parts of the bridge trying to stay afloat. Many of us tried to help whoever we could."

At least 141 people were killed. Chirag, Chetan and Dharmik were among them.

Back at the brothers' home, one of their friends told their mother, Kantaben, that the bridge had collapsed.

"I started calling my sons, but I couldn't get through," she says. "I was very restless and began pacing up and down my house."

Her husband Rajesh rushed to the scene. Then he started doing the rounds of hospitals. At 23:00, he found the bodies of Dharmik and Chirag at the Morbi Civil Hospital.

In the darkness of the night, the police, local officials, disaster response teams and military personnel continued their search for survivors, and the bodies of the dead.

At 03:00, Chetan's body was also found. At the Mucchadiya home, a steady stream of mourners began to visit.

"We've lost all our sons, our everything," Kantaben says. "What do we have now? My husband and I are all alone."

Chirag, 20, worked in a factory making spectacles. His earnings, along with what his father Rajesh makes working as a driver, sustained the family.

"Chirag was a very nice person. He listened to everything I said. And I also tried to give him whatever he asked for," Rajesh says.

Dharmik would have been 18 on 14 December. He'd begun to look for a job. "He was very mischievous. We had a lot of fun together. Now they're all gone," his father says.

"He loved tel paratha (fried flatbread) and always wanted me to make it for him," his mother adds.

Chetan was the youngest and was in the tenth grade at school. Rajesh describes him as a "master at studies".

They proudly display passport size photos of their sons, which appear to have been taken a few years ago, when they were younger.

"Whoever is responsible for my sons' deaths should be punished," Kantaben says. "They should rot in jail for the rest of their lives. They should be given the death sentence."

Rajesh adds: "We want answers. And we want justice."

There are many families who've lost more than one member in the collapse.

Nine people have been arrested so far, including the ticket sellers, security guards and managers of Oreva, the company which renovated the bridge.

Oreva has not responded to questions about the collapse. Some are asking if top-level managers in the company will also be investigated.

Many on the ground are also questioning the role of civic officials - asking if safety checks were done before the bridge was reopened.

"Whenever I close my eyes now I only see the visual of the collapsed bridge, and hear the voices of the people who were plunged into the river," says Nitin.

"I tore the ticket stub I had in anger. And it's not just me - the whole town is in grief and anger."

Rajesh, meanwhile, calls for a "proper investigation".

"Otherwise," he says, "people will keep dying like my children did."

BBC

 

[MP2011]

There is a BJP MP who lost 12 members of his family. Tragic, absolutely tragic!

RIP to all deceased.

 

[MP2011]

For PM's Visit, Gujarat Hospital's Overnight Clean-Up After Bridge Tragedy

Morbi, Gujarat: An all-night spruce up at the civil hospital in Gujarat's Morbi ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit today to meet the survivors of the massive bridge collapse tragedy that left 135 dead has drawn criticism from the Opposition.

The Prime Minister will be in Morbi this morning in the aftermath of the horrifying collapse of the cable suspension bridge across the Machchhu river. Of the 135 people killed, 47 were children. Over a 100 injured are being treated, many of them at the Morbi civil hospital.

The NDTV team visited the hospital last night and found a huge post-midnight “makeover” in progress just hours before the Prime Minister's visit.

A few walls and parts of the ceiling were freshly painted, and new water coolers were brought in. Bedsheets in the two wards where about 13 of those injured in the bridge tragedy are admitted were speedily changed too. Multiple people were seen sweeping the premises late at night. Amid the massive clean-up, old water coolers and damaged walls and ceiling gave away the real picture.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/guj...dge-tragedy-3478684#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

[MP2011]

So what was the need to paint and buy fresh water coolers at this juncture when all focus should have been to treat the injured?

This really paints the administration in really poor light.

 

[daytrader]

For PM's Visit, Gujarat Hospital's Overnight Clean-Up After Bridge Tragedy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Morbi this morning in the aftermath of the horrifying collapse of the cable suspension bridge across the Machchhu river.

Morbi, Gujarat: An all-night spruce up at the civil hospital in Gujarat's Morbi ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit today to meet the survivors of the massive bridge collapse tragedy that left 135 dead has drawn criticism from the Opposition.

The Prime Minister will be in Morbi this morning in the aftermath of the horrifying collapse of the cable suspension bridge across the Machchhu river. Of the 135 people killed, 47 were children. Over a 100 injured are being treated, many of them at the Morbi civil hospital.

The NDTV team visited the hospital last night and found a huge post-midnight “makeover” in progress just hours before the Prime Minister's visit.

A few walls and parts of the ceiling were freshly painted, and new water coolers were brought in. Bedsheets in the two wards where about 13 of those injured in the bridge tragedy are admitted were speedily changed too. Multiple people were seen sweeping the premises late at night. Amid the massive clean-up, old water coolers and damaged walls and ceiling gave away the real picture.

The renovation, which is not uncommon ahead of visits by top government functionaries, has attracted criticism. Opposition parties Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have accused the BJP of being busy with "event management" to ensure a "photoshoot" for the Prime Minister.

Terming it a "tragedy event", the Congress tweeted from its official handle in Hindi, "Tomorrow, Prime Minister Modi will visit the civil hospital in Morbi. Ahead of that, painting is on, shiny tiles are being laid. All arrangements are being made to ensure that there is nothing amiss in the Prime Minister's pictures. They have no shame, so many people have died, and they are busy in event management."

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is pushing hard to emerge as a key player in the Gujarat polls this year, tweeted pictures of the renovation. "Scenes at the Morbi Civil Hospital. Repair work is on to ensure there is nothing amiss in the Prime Minister's photoshoot tomorrow. If the BJP had worked in the past 27 years, there would have been no need to spruce up the hospital at midnight."

NDTV also found that some work had been stopped following an uproar by the Opposition parties over the sprucing up exercise at a time when the town has witnessed the country's worst bridge tragedy in decades.

NDTV

 

[ex-q-zit]

"Daughter, Sister, Nieces, Nephew": This Family Lost 6 In Gujarat Tragedy

Morbi, Gujarat: A family lost six of its members, including two children, while on an outing at the Gujarat suspension bridge that collapsed on Sunday, killing at least 135 people.

The inconsolable family told NDTV that the youngest victim was three years old, and another 20-year-old was about to get married next month. They were carrying the three-year-old in their lap when the cables snapped, sending several to their deaths in the river below.

Mehboob Bhai Mira lost his daughter, two sisters, two nieces, and a nephew.

Over 35 people from his family had gone to the bridge in Morbi at around 6 pm. Mehboob Bhai Mira and his wife Rasheeda Ben did not go as they had to buy jewellery for the 20-year-old who died, as her engagement was in 15 days.

Visibly angry at the immediate response to the accident, Mr Mira said the ambulance reached one hour after the collapse and the administration took two hours to get there. Other family members, including children, jumped into the water to pull people out, he said, adding that no government representative has met them yet.

The ₹ 17 entry ticket were sold to 300-400 people, more than twice the capacity of the bridge, which caused it to collapse.

"Nobody stopped them. There were no police, security or municipality officials there," he added.

A woman from the family said she rescued two of her children, and also pulled out other children. "There should have been someone to tell us to wait until others got off from the bridge," she added.

The family demanded justice, and said the bridge should be properly rebuilt, with strict safety checks.

Several such heart-wrenching stories are coming in from survivors and family members of those who died in the tragedy.

The British-era suspension bridge in Morbi, which had been closed since March for renovation, collapsed on Sunday night - just four days after it reopened to the public. At least 47 children, several women and elderly are among the dead, according to the officials.

Nearly 500 people were on the bridge when it collapsed. Though, the 150-year-old structure could take the weight of only about 125 people.

The company was bound by its contract to keep the bridge shut for at least eight to 12 months for maintenance and repairs. It was a "seriously irresponsible and careless gesture" to open the bridge last week, the police said in an FIR.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the hospital in Morbi city where the injured people are being treated. The facility got a quick-fix facelift overnight ahead of his visit.

NDTV

 

[PakLFC]

In all likelihood many more people have probably perished in this avoidable disaster then the Indian media is disclosing. We know Godi media are the biggest liars in the world even by the admission of millions of Indian people themselves.

 

[MenInG]

Slamming the Morbi civic body for "acting smart", the Gujarat High Court today sought direct answers and slammed the manner in which the contract was awarded for maintenance of a 150-year-old bridge that collapsed on October 30 killing over 130 people.

"The municipality, a government body, has defaulted, which ultimately killed 135 people," the court said as a preliminary observation, noting that the municipality was not represented today despite a notice.

It pointedly asked officials to come back with details on whether any condition for certifying fitness of the bridge before its reopening was part the agreement, and who the person responsible was.

"The state shall also place on record reasons why disciplinary proceedings against chief officer of the civic body aren't commenced," it said.

"The largesse of the state seems to have been granted without there being any tender floated in this regard," its order noted. "Why was the tender for the repair work of a public bridge not floated? Why weren't bids invited?" Chief Justice Aravind Kumar said to the Chief Secretary, the state's top bureaucrat, at the opening hearing of the case that will be heard on Wednesday too.

The Morbi municipality had given the 15-year contract to Oreva Group, which is best known for the Ajanta brand of wall clocks.

"How was an agreement for such an important work completed in just one and a half pages?" the Chief Justice said. "Was the largesse of the state given to Ajanta company without any tender being floated?" the court further observed.

It asked for the basis on which the bridge was being operated by the company after June 2017 "even when [the contract signed in 2008] was not renewed". A new agreement was signed this year.

The court had taken note of the tragedy on its own and sought replies from at least six departments. Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh J Shastri are hearing the matter.

So far, only some staff of the contracted company have been arrested, while the top management, which signed the ₹ 7-crore pact, has not faced action, nor have any officers been held accountable for the bridge having been reopened ahead of the renovation schedule.

It is alleged that the company did not replace the rusted cables but installed a new flooring that proved too heavy.

The court asked for files of the contract from the first day to be submitted in a sealed envelope.

The government has submitted that it worked at "lightning speed" and saved many lives. "Nine people have been arrested, and if anybody else is found to be guilty, we'll definitely book them," a government lawyer said. It submitted that monetary compensation has been give too: The state announced Rs 4 lakh to families of the dead and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the disaster site in his home state, announced ₹ 2 lakh each from the central government for families of the dead.

In the order today, the court directed the Principal District Judge of Morbi to appoint a bailiff to a notice to the civic body. It noted that, though the state has filed an affidavit, some clarifications were needed about the contract.

"The list of chronological events would indicate that MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed on June 16, 2008, between Collector and the contractor," it noted. "This was to operate, maintain, manage and collect rent in respect of the suspension bridge. The said period expired on June 15, 2017. Thus the moot question would be: Under this MoU, who had been fixed the responsibility to certify the fitness of bridge... After the term was over in 2017, what steps were taken by Morbi civic body and the Collector thereafter to float a tender?" the court said.

Rights panel is probing too

While the state government has set up a five-member inquiry committee to look into lapses, the Gujarat State Human Rights Commission informed the court today that its chairperson and a member are probing the ramifications of the tragedy.

The commission is also verifying if the compensation is being is paid properly to the families.

The court sought to further know from the state if it could provide jobs to family members of victims who were sole earners.

NDTV

 

[ex-q-zit]

Why No Action Taken Against "Real Culprits' Of Morbi Bridge Crash?: Rahul Gandhi

Rajkot, Gujarat: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said no action has been taken against the "real culprits" behind the last month's collapse of a suspension bridge in Gujarat's Morbi town, where 135 people were killed, because they share a "good relationship" with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Addressing an election rally in Rajkot, his second in the day, he said while watchmen (posted at the accident site) were arrested and jailed, no action was taken against the real culprits.

"When journalists asked me what I think about the Morbi tragedy... I said around 150 people died and this is not a political issue and so I would say nothing on this. But the question arises today as to why no action was taken against those who were behind this (tragedy), why no FIR (has been filed against them)?" he asked.

"Will nothing happen to them because they share a good relationship with the BJP? They arrested chowkidars (watchmen) and put them behind bars, but no action has been taken against the real culprits," the Congress MP alleged.

Mr Gandhi said he is feeling sad the Bharat Jodo Yatra of the Congress is not passing through Gujarat, where Assembly polls will be held on December 1 and 5.

The Congress MP took a break from the 3,570km cross-country foot-march, which started from Tamil Nadu on September 7 and is currently passing through adjoining Maharashtra, and addressed two election rallies in support of his party candidates in Gujarat.

NDTV

 

[ex-q-zit]

Gujarat Bridge Collapse Was An "Enormous Tragedy": Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday said that the Morbi Bride collapse incident in which 140 were killed was an "enormous tragedy" and asked the Gujarat High Court which is already hearing a suo motu case on the same issue, to hold periodical hearings.

"It is an enormous tragedy and this will require weekly monitoring to see the award of contract, credential of the party awarded the contract, attribution of responsibility for those guilty," observed a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Hima Kohli.

The top court noted that a division bench headed by the Gujarat High Court Chief Justice has already taken a suo motu note of the incident and has passed three orders, it will not hear the petitions as of now.

It asked petitioners to approach the High Court with their pleas seeking an independent probe and award of dignified compensation to those who lost their family members.

The British-era bridge on the Machchhu river in Morbi collapsed on October 30 leaving over 140 dead including 47 children.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by the person who lost his two relatives in the incident, seeking a CBI probe, award of dignified compensation to those who lost their family members, the need to fix responsibility against officials of the Nagar Palika and that the agency entrusted to maintain the bridge is held accountable.

It was also hearing a PIL seeking direction to appoint a judicial commission under the supervision of a retired top court judge to initiate a probe on the Morbi Bridge collapse incident.

During the hearing, the bench said the Gujarat High Court had already taken suo motu cognisance of the Morbi bridge collapse on October 30 hence it wouldn't hear the case. It said the High Court would "undoubtedly be seized of ensuring a regulatory mechanism so that such incidents do not recur."

"We are of the view that the High Court would also bring to bear its time and attention on other aspects of the matter which have been highlighted above while recording the submissions of the learned counsel of the petitioner," the bench stated in its order.

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat government, submitted that the High Court has already taken note of the issue and that the petitioner can raise the issues there.

More than 140 people died and over 100 people were injured due to the collapse of the suspension bridge over the Morbi Macchu river.

As per reports, the bridge was closed for about 8 months for maintenance and the repair work was being completed by a private agency.

The Gujarat Police has filed a First Information Report under IPC sections 304 and 308 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) in the bridge collapse tragedy.

The Gujarat government has constituted a five-member committee headed to probe the bridge collapse incident.

NDTV

 

[ex-q-zit]

3,165 Tickets Issued On Day Gujarat Bridge Collapsed, Finds Damning Report: 10 Points

Morbi (Gujarat): Investigation into the bridge collapse in Gujarat's Morbi that killed over 130 people last month has revealed huge lapses in the renovation and the management upon reopening, raising questions over contractor Oreva Group and the local municipality.

Here's the story so far in 10 key facts:

1) Oreva Group, which had the contract of maintenance, operation and security of the suspension bridge, had issued a whopping 3,165 tickets on October 30, the day of the collapse, said the government lawyer at a district court today while submitting a forensic probe report. Not all tickets were sold but the company hadn't, in any case, assessed the load-bearing capacity of the bridge that was originally built over a century ago.

2) The bridge's cables were rusted, its anchors were broken, and even the bolts that connected the cables with the anchors were loose, the report said. Preliminary probe had suggested that the old cables could not take the load of a new, heavy flooring laid by the contractor.

3) The guards and ticket collector kept by Oreva were daily wage labourers, who had no expertise in crowd management, said the government lawyer during bail hearing of the nine staff members who have so far been arrested. No one from the top management of Oreva, which is known mainly for 'Ajanta' clocks, has faced arrest as yet.

4) The guards were never told about safety protocols or how many people should be allowed on the bridge, the report said. The district-level government pleader, Vijay Jani, told NDTV, "Oreva was responsible for security but they didn't even keep any lifeguards or boats to save people in case of an accident."

5) The bridge over Machchhu river collapsed just four days after it was reopened. It was to be kept closed for eight to 12 months as per the contract, but was reopened after seven months -- on October 26, the Gujarati New Year -- without any fitness certificate by the local civic body.

6) In the High Court last week, the civic body took responsibility for the collapse. It said in an affidavit that "the bridge shouldn't have been opened". An officer has been suspended. The High Court had taken note of the tragedy on its own and sought replies from at least six departments.

7) The civic body was slammed by the High Court at two hearings before this over delay in filing an affidavit about details of the tragedy. "The municipality, a government body, has defaulted, which ultimately killed 135 people," the court said.

8) The High Court has asked why legal norms had not been followed. "The largesse of the state seems to have been granted without there being any tender floated in this regard," one of its orders last week stated. The court asked for the basis on which the bridge was being operated by the company after June 2017 "even when the contract (signed in 2008 for nine years) was not renewed". A fresh agreement was signed in March 2022 for a period of 15 years.

9) The matter reached the Supreme Court earlier this week, and it asked the High Court to hold periodical hearings. "It is an enormous tragedy and this will require weekly monitoring to see the award of contract, credential of the party awarded the contract, attribution of responsibility for those guilty," observed the bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Hima Kohli.

10) While the state government has set up a five-member inquiry committee, the Gujarat State Human Rights Commission has told the High Court that its chairperson and a member are probing the effects of the tragedy. The commission is also verifying if the compensation is being is paid properly to the families.

NDTV

 

[MenInG]

The Gujarat government-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) has found in its preliminary probe that corrosion on nearly half of the wires on a cable and welding of old suspenders with new ones were some of the major faults that led to the collapse of the suspension bridge in Morbi last year in which 135 people were killed.
These findings are part of the 'Preliminary Report on Morbi Bridge Incident' submitted by the five-member SIT in December 2022. The report was recently shared with the Morbi Municipality by the state Urban Development Department.

Ajanta Manufacturing Limited (Oreva Group) was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the British-era suspension bridge on the Machchu river that collapsed on October 30 last year. The SIT had found several lapses in repairs, maintenance and operation of the bridge.

IAS officer Rajkumar Beniwal, IPS officer Subhash Trivedi, a secretary and a chief engineer from the state Roads and Building Department and a professor of structural engineering were members of the SIT.

The SIT noted that of the two main cables of the bridge, built by the erstwhile rulers in 1887 over river Machchhu, one cable was having issues of corrosion and nearly half of its wires "may be already broken" even before the cable snapped on October 30 evening.

According to the SIT, the main cable on the upstream side of the river snapped, leading to the tragedy.

Each cable was formed by seven strands, each comprising seven steel wires. Total 49 wires were clubbed together in seven strands to form this cable, the SIT report said.

"It was observed that out of the 49 wires (of that cable), 22 were corroded, which indicates that those wires may have already broken before the incident. The remaining 27 wires recently broke," the SIT said in its report.

The SIT also found that during the renovation work, "old suspenders (steel rods which connect the cable with the platform deck) were welded with the new suspenders. Hence the behaviour of suspenders changed. In these types of bridges, single rod suspenders should be used to bear the load".

NDTV

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I added the (4th largest economy) to the headline incase there is any confusion with Gujrat in Pakistan.

9 Killed After Vehicles Fall Into River As Bridge Collapses In Gujarat​

The bridge, which connects the Anand and Vadodara districts, gave way during peak morning traffic hours, resulting in fatalities.​

• Indo-Asian News Service
• India News
• Jul 09, 2025 12:40 pm IST
  • Published OnJul 09, 2025 11:11 am IST
  • Last Updated OnJul 09, 2025 12:40 pm IST

Read Time:2 mins
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Nine people were killed and several vehicles fell into the Mahisagar River

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New Delhi:
Nine people were killed and several vehicles fell into the Mahisagar (Mahi) River after a section of the Gambhira-Mujpur bridge in Padra taluka of Gujarat's Vadodara collapsed on Wednesday.

The bridge, which connects the Anand and Vadodara districts, gave way during peak morning traffic hours, resulting in fatalities and injuries to three others.

According to initial reports, four vehicles, including two trucks, a Bolero SUV, and a pickup van, were crossing the bridge when it suddenly crumbled.

Eyewitnesses said a loud cracking noise was heard moments before the vehicles dropped into the river. Fire brigade teams, local police, and members of the Vadodara district administration rushed to the spot and launched immediate rescue operations.






Locals also joined in, helping to extract the injured from the wreckage. So far, three people have been rescued and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Padra MLA Chaitanyasinh Zala visited the site shortly after the incident.

Authorities have cordoned off the area to prevent further accidents and initiated a probe into the cause of the collapse.

Locals allege that the bridge, a key artery linking Central Gujarat to Saurashtra and vital for commuters between Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, and Ankleshwar, had long been neglected by the administration.

"The Gambhira bridge has become notorious not just as a traffic hazard but also as a suicide point. Repeated warnings about its condition were ignored," said one resident.

Senior Congress leader Amit Chavda posted on social media: "The main Gambhira bridge connecting Anand and Vadodara districts has collapsed. Many vehicles have fallen into the river, and major casualties are feared. The administration must immediately carry out rescue operations and arrange alternate routes for traffic."

Drivers were continuing to search the river for any missing persons, and cranes had been brought in to retrieve the submerged vehicles.

More details were awaited.

A detailed technical inspection and safety audit of similar structures in the region is expected to follow.

9 Killed After Vehicles Fall Into River As Bridge Collapses In Gujarat

Nine people were killed and several vehicles fell into the Mahisagar (Mahi) River after a section of the Gambhira-Mujpur bridge in Padra taluka of Gujarat's Vadodara collapsed on Wednesday.

www.ndtv.com

Om Shanti to the deceased.

I have heard some say that the root cause of the collapse was the weight of India's ever growing economy but I personally suspect that it was down to poor infrastructure. Perhaps the engineers were too fixated on IMF bailouts in Pakistan?

Recently there has been tragedy after tragedy in India. Including the plane crash in worlds largest aviation market and recent blast in worlds sixths largest chemical exporting economy that killed 40+ people.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Corruption is the reason for this.

The amount in which this fly over would have been constructed and repaired (on paper) over the years would have been even enough to make 2 fly overs in California.

Corrupt contractors and officials taking full advantage of the surplus riches of the 4th largest GDP in the world and the proud owner of BrahMos missiles which we all know are the greatest and the most unguardable daggers in the missile world right now which obliterated PAF recently.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Just one look at the bridge shows there are still massive infrastructure problems. India is a third world country, and their building projects still reflect this. I am not sure how they fix this without massive spending, but then it would have a negative affect on their liquidity and projections of finiancial super status.

 

[Rafale Nidhal]

Corruption is the reason for this.

The amount in which this fly over would have been constructed and repaired (on paper) over the years would have been even enough to make 2 fly overs in California.

Corrupt contractors and officials taking full advantage of the surplus riches of the 4th largest GDP in the world and the proud owner of BrahMos missiles which we all know are the greatest and the most unguardable daggers in the missile world right now which obliterated PAF recently.

seems like stuff that happens in the neighboring countries as well.....a few cities are given intense care and development while the rest are given nothing, same old stuff and lots of negative incidents happening and still no one cares and life moves on.

depressing.