India

9 arrested in Gujarat’s Morbi bridge collapse case

Nine people have been arrested in connection with Gujarat’s Morbi bridge collapse in which over 140 people were killed.  Among them are managers of Oreva, the company that repaired the bridge, ticket collectors, bridge repair contractors and three security guards entrusted with controlling the crowds.

Oreva has been accused of violating multiple safety rules, leading to the huge tragedy just four days after the bridge reopened to the public.

After signing a 15-year deal with the Morbi municipal authority, Oreva, a company that makes watches, allegedly outsourced the “technical aspect of the bridge renovation” to a smaller company with Devprakash Solutions.

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 the FIR.

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

Tickets were sold for Rs 12 to Rs 17 to nearly 500 people which resulted in overcrowding on the hanging bridge, causing the old metal cables to give way. The old bridge could take the weight of only about 125 people.

AddThis Website Tools
IN Bureau

Recent Posts

EAM Jaishankar speaks to Qatar PM Al Thani, discusses bilateral agenda

External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar spoke to the Prime Minister of Qatar, Mohammed bin…

18 minutes ago

Rajnath Singh meets Chinese counterpart General Don Jun, says “Incumbent on two nations to maintain positive momentum”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Admiral Don Jun on…

23 minutes ago

Thailand: Union MoS Nityanand Rai highlights India’s civil registration system’s success at ministerial conference

Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai delivered India's country statement at…

33 minutes ago

All visa applications treated on merit basis, MEA on US visa issues for Indian nationals

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has taken note of the new guidelines issued by…

16 hours ago

“India’s concern on terrorism was not acceptable to one country’: MEA on Rajnath Singh refusal to sign SCO joint statement

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said India refused to sign the joint declaration…

16 hours ago

India evacuated 3,426 Indian nationals from Iran, 818 from Israel in Operation Sindhu: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India, so far have evacuated…

17 hours ago