Nation

Morbi bridge collapse: Gujarat High Court takes suo motu cognizance; report from the state

November 7, 2022
Bharat Times

New Delhi: The Gujarat High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the Morbi bridge collapse incident on Monday. It also issued notices to state government officials of the Home Department, Urban Housing, Morbi Municipality, State Human Rights Commission and sought a report on the incident within a week. Self cognizance is when courts take up cases on their own right without filing any prior petition.

Morbi bridge tragedy

The Morbi bridge over the Machhu river collapsed on 30 October, killing over 130 people. In disturbing videos and photos, people were seen falling into the river. More than 500 people drowned in the Machhu river when the bridge collapsed. Residents and government officials immediately began rescue operations. Morbi Bridge A popular local picnic spot that draws large crowds on weekends and other holidays.

Lawyers in Gujarat’s Morbi hold a protest march refusing to fight trial for all nine accused in the Morbi bridge collapse case that killed 135 people on October 30. Two of the nine accused are members of the Oreva group (a Gujarat-based electrical equipment manufacturer), which is being probed for allegedly opening the Morbi suspension bridge on Gujarati New Year’s day without informing the local municipality.

The company responsible for the maintenance of the bridge

The Orewa Group was awarded the contract to maintain the centuries-old suspension bridge. Four accused in the case have been kept in police custody till Saturday, while the other five have been kept in judicial custody. Of the four people in police custody, two are managers of the Orewa company, and the other two are construction contractors. Morbi’s lawyers have refused to contest the case on behalf of all the nine defendants.

(with agency input)