Gujarat: PM Modi to visit Morbi bridge collapse site tomorrow
What's the story
PM Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat's Morbi on Tuesday to take stock of the situation there following the collapse of a 19th-century suspension bridge, which killed at least 141 people, reported NDTV.
About 500 people—including many women and children—were on the bridge when its cables snapped, sending them crashing into the Machchhu River below.
Many were reportedly performing Chhath Puja rituals on the bridge.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The Morbi incident has sparked a major political squabble in Gujarat, as it is being termed one of the world's deadliest bridge collapses.
At least 141 people have died, and over 175 have reportedly been injured in the mishap.
Notably, the tragedy occurred just months before the Gujarat Assembly elections, putting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a difficult position.
Details
'My mind is with the victims of Morbi'
On Monday, paying tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary at the Statue of Unity, Kevadia, Gujarat, Modi expressed grief over the tragedy.
"I am in Ekta Nagar, but my mind is with the victims of Morbi. Rarely...would I have experienced such pain. On one hand, there is a pain-riddled heart...on the other hand, there is the path to duty," he said.
Information
Government announces compensation
Meanwhile, the Gujarat government has announced a compensation of Rs. 4 lakh for the kin of those killed in the bridge collapse and Rs. 50,000 for those injured. PM Modi also promised Rs. 2 lakh financial assistance each to the victims' families.
Tragedy
What do we know about the mishap?
The suspension bridge over the Machchhu River in Morbi collapsed on Sunday, killing at least 141 people.
The 140-year-old bridge was reopened on October 26 on Gujarati New Year after remaining closed for six-seven months for renovation.
Besides the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force, teams from the Indian Air Force, Army, and Navy were also involved in rescue operations.
Negligence
Bridge reopened without 'safety audit'
The Morbi Municipality reportedly handed over the maintenance and management operations of the 19th-century bridge for a 15-year period to Oreva Group (Ajanta Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd.) a few months back.
However, the company reopened the bridge to visitors without notifying the authorities, said Sandeepsinh Zala, Chief Officer, Morbi Municipality.
"We couldn't get a safety audit of the bridge conducted," he told The Indian Express.
Information
Contractor company booked for 'culpable homicide'
Earlier, Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said that a five-member committee was constituted to investigate the incident, adding a criminal case was registered against the contractor and the management who renovated the bridge.
"A case has been registered under charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and intentional act causing death against whoever is found responsible," he was quoted as saying by NDTV.