In Gujarat’s Morbi, on October 30 last year, a suspension bridge over the Machchu river collapsed, killing 135 people, including 35 children. The High Court had taken suo motu cognizance of the matter and given strict instructions to the company maintaining the bridge and the state government.
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Oreva Group has not yet released the first installment of compensation to the victims of the Morbi bridge accident in Gujarat. This thing came to the fore during the hearing in the Gujarat High Court on Thursday. On this, the High Court directed the company to pay the first installment of compensation by 22 March. The High Court had taken suo motu cognizance in this matter. On October 30 last year, a suspension bridge over the Machhu river had collapsed, killing 135 people, including 35 children.
The counsel for Oreva Group director Jaysukh Patel told the court that since he is in jail, the company cannot release the compensation amount. On this, the High Court orally asked the company to pay the first installment to the families of the victims by March 22 and posted the matter for further hearing on March 27.
The state government filed an affidavit in the court during the hearing informing about the precautionary measures to be taken for other bridges and cross-drainage works in the state. It informed the court that henceforth, the bridges would be inspected by a Deputy Executive Engineer level officer for the first time before the monsoon sets in.
The Gujarat government informed the court that a proper file of the inspections would be maintained. Thereafter, before and after the monsoon, the executive engineers would check the bridges in their respective areas. The government also informed the court that specific bridges would be inspected several times by the Superintending Engineer after the monsoon.