Highlight
- More than a century old bridge in Morbi city broke at around 6.30 pm
- The bridge was given to the Orewa Company for operation and maintenance for 15 years.
- The bridge was 1.25 m wide and spanned 233 m, and was built to give Morbik a unique identity.
Morbi Cable Bridge collapsed At least 77 people were killed when a suspension-cable bridge over the Machhu river in Gujarat’s Morbi collapsed on Sunday evening, which did not have a municipality’s ‘fitness certificate’, an official said.
The suspension bridge was reopened to the public just four days ago after seven months of repair work by a private firm.
More than a century old bridge in Morbi town was packed with people at around 6.30 pm.
An Indian Army team from an artillery brigade near Dhrangadhara, including doctors and paramedical staff, has already reached the accident site at Morbi and is participating in rescue and relief operations. Defense officials said that another army team along with doctors and other relief material is reaching the spot soon.
In addition, Indian Naval Station Valsura in Jamnagar, Gujarat has sent a team of over 40 personnel, consisting of marine commandos and sailors who are good swimmers, for the rescue operation.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has also reached the spot to take stock of the situation.
“The bridge was given to the Orewa Company for operation and maintenance for 15 years. In March this year, it was closed to the public for renovation.
It was reopened after renovation on the Gujarati New Year Day celebrated on October 26, said Sandeepsinh Jala, chief officer of Morbi Municipality.
“It was opened to the public after the renovation work was completed. But the local municipality had not yet issued any fitness certificate (after the renovation work),” he said.
An “engineering marvel” built at the turn of the 19th century, the suspension bridge was said to reflect the “progressive and scientific nature of the rulers of Morbi”, according to its description on the district collectorate website.
Sir Waghji Thakor, who ruled Morbi until 1922, was inspired by colonial influence and decided to build the bridge, an “artistic and technological marvel” of the time, to connect the Darbargarh Palace with the Nazarbagh Palace (the erstwhile residence of royalty) Can go
The bridge was 1.25 meters wide and spanned 233 metres, and was meant to give Morbi a unique identity, using the latest technology available in those days in Europe, according to the Collectorate website.
,With inputs from PTI,
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