NE NEWS SERVICE
MORBI (GUJARAT), OCT 31
Thedeath toll in Gujarat’s Morbi cable bridge collapse rose to 130 on Monday with rescue personnel recovering more bodies from the Machchhu river, an official said.
મોરબીમાં આર્મી, નેવી, એરફોર્સ, NDRF, SDRF, ફાયરબ્રિગેડ સહિતની ટીમે આખી રાત મચ્છુ નદીમાં સર્ચ ઓપરેશન અને બચાવ કાર્ય કર્યું હતું. તંત્રની કામગીરીમાં સ્થાનિકોએ પણ જોડાઈને સહયોગ કર્યો હતો. વિવિધ હોસ્પિટલ અને આરોગ્ય કેન્દ્રોમાં તબીબોએ પણ ખડે પગે રહીને ઈમરજન્સી સારવાર આપી હતી. pic.twitter.com/sw2PH6MV8H
— Bhupendra Patel (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Bhupendrapbjp) October 31, 2022
The century-old bridge, which had reopened barely five days ago after extensive repairs and renovation, was crammed with people when it collapsed around 6.30 pm on Sunday. “At least 130 deaths have been reported so far,’ according to officials.
મોરબી કલેક્ટર કચેરી ખાતે વિવિધ વિભાગના અધિકારીઓ સાથે દુર્ઘટના સંદર્ભે ઉચ્ચસ્તરીય સમીક્ષા બેઠક હાથ ધરી હતી. pic.twitter.com/W1lweNHk7X
— Bhupendra Patel (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Bhupendrapbjp) October 31, 2022
Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi told reporters at Morbi, around 300 km from Gandhinagar, that the state government has formed a committee to probe the collapse. Eyewitnesses said there were several women and children on the British era “hanging bridge” when it snapped, plunging them into the water below. Some people were seen jumping on the bridge and pulling its big wire, an eyewitness said, adding the bridge may have collapsed due to the “huge crowd” on it. After the collapse, all that remained of the bridge was part of the metal carriageway hanging down from one end into the dark water, its thick cables snapped in places.
Following the accident, Modi has cancelled his road show, scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad Monday ahead of the state Assembly polls, BJP sources said. A ‘page committee sammelan’, scheduled to be held on Tuesday in Modi’s virtual presence, has also been put off, they added.
At the local hospital people formed a human chain to hold back crowds and keep the road clear for ambulances which brought those rescued
Sanghavi said a five-member high-powered committee has been formed to probe the bridge collapse. It includes Roads and Buildings department secretary Sandeep Vasava and four other senior officers.
An FIR was lodged in the bridge collapse under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (intentional act causing death) and 114 (abettor present when offence committed), against whoever is found responsible, Sanghavi said.
Due to the Diwali vacation and being a Sunday, there was a rush of tourists on the bridge, a major tourist attraction. A private operator had carried out the repair work of the bridge for nearly six months before it was reopened to the public on the Gujarati New Year Day on October 26. 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), an official said.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reached the accident site late in the night and also met those injured at the civil hospital. The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
મુખ્યમંત્રી શ્રી ભૂપેન્દ્ર પટેલે મોરબી ખાતે હોસ્પિટલમાં સારવાર લઈ રહેલા ઈજાગ્રસ્તોની રૂબરૂ મુલાકાત લઈને તેમની સ્થિતિ તેમજ તેમને મળી રહેલ સારવારની વિગતો જાણી હતી. pic.twitter.com/vnhupeMvq0
— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) October 30, 2022
The National Disaster Response Force rushed three teams to Morbi district.
