Morbi (Gujarat): Day after the bridge collapse that killed 134 people in Gujarat's Morbi, police have registered an FIR on charges of culpable homicide and arrested nine persons including the officials of Oreva, the company that renovated the Mobi bridge, ticket sellers and security men.
Those arrested include Dinesh Dave and Deepak Parekh, managers at Oreva Group, Ticket counter clerks Mansukh Topia and Madev Solanki, and security guards Alpesh Gohil, Prakash Parmar, Dilip Gohil, Mukesh Chauhan, and Devang Parmar. Morbi Municipality's chief officer Sandeepsinh Zala told reporters that the city-based clocks and e-bike maker Oreva Group was given the contract for the renovation and operation of the bridge.
In the First Information Report (FIR) lodged at Morbi 'B' division police station on Sunday night, police have shown "agencies responsible for maintenance and management of the hanging bridge" as the main accused, along with others whose names emerge during the course of investigation.
Also read: Chilling moments right before Morbi bridge collapse captured
The case was registered under Indian Penal Code Sections 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide). The FIR, lodged by 'B' division police inspector Prakash Dekivadia, stated that the bridge over the Machchhu river in Morbi town was not in use for nearly eight months as the local administration had roped in a "private agency" for its maintenance.
After completion of the maintenance, the agency opened the bridge for the public on October 26, the FIR said, adding that it collapsed at around 6.30 pm on October 30, killing several people as they fell into the river. As per the FIR, the incident took place because of the "callous approach" of the agency people.
The FIR further stated that persons concerned or agencies did not pay attention to the quality of maintenance as well as repair work of the bridge. The bridge was opened for tourists by the agency despite knowing that their "callous approach" in the maintenance and management of the bridge may lead to human deaths, the FIR stated.
"We have lodged an FIR and called some persons for questioning. We are also trying to establish contact with the Oreva company's staff who were on duty at the bridge yesterday," SP Rahul Tripathi said. (Agency inputs)
