Current affairs

In ten points: A look at the collapse of a 100-year-old heritage bridge in Gujarat and a shocking revelation!

By alagu, 31 October, 2022
Gujarat, BJP, Narendra Modi

Gujarat has been mourning over a tragic event that occurred on Sunday that had an immediate impact across and beyond the poll-bound state. A century-old heritage bridge collapsed in Morbi city and the incident left hundreds dead and hundreds more missing. The visuals from the site displayed the grim situation covered with tears and distress and the national leaders are expressing their condolences to the bereaved families.

On Sunday, the heritage bridge over the Machchu river in Morbi was packed with tourists and local residents when the cable supporting it collapsed, which left hundreds to get drowned in the river. The people standing on the edges of both sides of the bridge were seen making desperate attempts to make it to the shore by clinging on to the remains of the bridge as an unprecedented event sent shockwaves across the nation. Let's take a look at the collapse and its key updates in ten points, 

  • Jhulto Pul is a suspension pedestrian bridge in Morbi that collapsed on Sunday. Around 500 people including women and children were on the bridge when its cables lost their grip and crumpled in the river.
  • The bridge was carrying tourists and local residents and most of them were performing Chhath Puja rituals. After the collapse, the people abruptly fell into the river and when the news of the collapse hit the nation, hundreds lost their lives. 
  • The bridge got collapsed at 6.30 pm on Sunday and as of 7.30 am on Monday - October 31, the death toll reached 130 while hundreds more were missing. The people who got the cables were seen crying for rescue while others were swimming to reach the shore. 
  • It has been reported that most casualties were women and children and after learning about the incident, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed three teams to Morbi on Sunday for the rescue operations. 
  • The British-era suspension bridge was reopened for the public just four days back, on October 26, after seven months of repair work carried out by a private firm. Chief Officer of Morbi Municipality, Sandeepsinh Zala said that the bridge was closed in March this year for renovation and it was reopened on October 26 on the occasion of Gujarati New Year Day. 
  • In a shocking revelation, it has come to light that the bridge wasn't issued with a safety and fitness certificate after the renovation and it was abruptly reopened for the public without any prior checks.
  • Zala said, "It was opened to the public after the completion of the renovation work. But the local municipality had not yet issued any fitness certificate (to reopen the bridge)." Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said on Monday that a criminal case has been filed and a five-member committee is probing the collapse. 
  • Over 140 people are missing and along with NDRF teams, the Army, Navy, and Air Force have joined the rescue operations as it is feared that the death toll may increase. NDRF Director General Atul Karwal said that three teams comprise 30 rescuers and four boats while he added that more teams will be deployed. 
  • A State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) of Gujarat, which was closer to Morbi, was the first to reach the spot and initiate the rescue efforts while the NDRF was mobilized around 7.30 pm. The tragic event sparked outrage against the BJP government on why the bridge was reopened to the public before it has a fitness certificate following the renovation.
  • The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the family of each deceased person and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the family of the deceased. The Prime Minister is likely to visit Morbi on Monday. 

Prime Minister Modi, who was in Gujarat at the time of the collapse, cited that he was pained by the tragedy. He said, "I have immense pain in my heart, and on the other hand, I have my path of duty to walk. I am in your midst because of duty but my mind is with the families of the victims. I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy. The Gujarat government is with them. The state government has been carrying out rescue operations with its full strength."

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A part of heritage bridge is seen drowned in the sea as the collapse in Gujarat killed hundreds - Oct 30, 2022

 

President Droupadi Murmu said, "The tragedy in Morbi, Gujarat has left me worried. My thoughts and prayers are with the affected people. Relief and rescue efforts will bring succor to the victims." Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar tweeted, "Distressed to hear about the tragic incident in Morbi, Gujarat. I pray for the safe rescue of all and the speedy recovery of those injured. My thoughts are with the affected families." Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said he was deeply saddened by the collapse and appealed to party workers in the state to extend every possible assistance in rescue work. 

 

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