Indian SC to hear plea seeking court-monitored probe in Gujarat bridge collapse
In the Gujarat bridge collapse incident, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) demanding a court-monitored judicial inquiry. The top court would hear the plea on November 14. The PIL has been filed by lawyer Vishal Tiwari.
More than 130 people have died after a bridge collapsed in Gujarat's Morbi on Sunday evening. Among those who have died are over 40 children. Prime Minister Narendra Modi - who arrived in his home state on Sunday - would be visiting the accident site on Tuesday afternoon. He held a high-level meeting on Monday evening along with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other top officials to review the situation.
The 233 metres-long suspension bridge collapsed when a large number of weekend visitors had gathered on Sunday evening amid festive celebrations. Overcrowding and lapses in repair work are believed to be the main causes behind the accident. It has turned out to be one of the worst disasters in recent times. The bridge had opened just a few days ago following repairs and the manufacturing firm - Oreva group - which was tasked with maintenance is now under scanner.
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The state government has formed a five-member committee to investigate the incident. On Monday, nine people - including two employees of the Oreva Group - were arrested.
Meanwhile, as the incident comes ahead of the state polls, the opposition has been demanding a deeper investigation. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said a panel - under the supervision of a retired judge - should be formed for the probe.
Now, new details have emerged that have put Gujarat-based electrical appliances manufacturing firm Oreva at the centre of everything. The company has been maintaining the bridge for 15 years, and was responsible for the repair work and renovation of it. Nine people, including two managers of Oreva, have been arrested so far over the accident.
Morbi chief security officer Sandeep Singh Jhala said that Oreva was probably not issued a fitness certificate to reopen the bridge. "They did not give us any information that they were reopening the bridge," he was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Besides, ticketing clerks, security guards and contractors have been held. Eyewitnesses and survivors said that people were simply entering the bridge, with no one stopping them, despite the requirement of tickets. Overcrowding and negligence have come out to be the primary areas of focus in the tragedy.
