The Gujarat High Court has once again chastised Oreva company for the Morbi cable bridge disaster in 2022, further complicating matters for MD Jaysukh Patel. The court emphatically declared Patel accountable for the tragedy. They inquired whether contempt proceedings should be initiated against Jaysukh Patel, with a detailed hearing scheduled for April 26.
It is reported that the Gujarat High Court has severely reprimanded Oreva company for the Morbi bridge accident. Notably, Oreva's MD Jaysukh Patel was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court. The High Court expressed stern disillusionment with the compensation to victims and families of the deceased, posing the question of contempt charges against Jaysukh Patel.
What else did the High Court say?
The Gujarat High Court issued a notice to Oreva company for negligence, stating that their conduct was unacceptable and they were not here to play hide-and-seek. They criticized Patel's previous excuses, and insisted that he must comply with the court's orders. The court reminded that this hearing was invoked suo moto, and they were not obliged to heed the company's defense. They emphasized Oreva's failure to take substantive action and held them responsible for the disastrous bridge collapse.
The court has also reviewed the SIT report and highlighted the gross negligence that led to the inevitable collapse of the bridge after shoddy repair work. It is worth mentioning that the SIT appointed by the government revealed several discrepancies in their report, highlighting issues like rust on nearly half the cables and improper joining of old suspenders with new ones.
Timeline of the Morbi Tragedy
On October 30, 2022, the tragic bridge collapse occurred in Morbi, Gujarat. The bridge maintenance and operations were contracted to Ajanta Manufacturing Limited (Oreva Group), and the SIT found multiple failures in its upkeep. This committee included IAS officer Rajkumar Beniwal, IPS officer Subhash Trivedi, a secretary from the State Roads and Buildings Department, a chief engineer, and a professor of structural engineering.
Morbi's 143-Year-Old Bridge
The iconic Morbi bridge, spanning 765 feet in length and 4 feet in width, was 143 years old. Inaugurated in 1879, it was commissioned by the ruler of Morbi, Thakor Waghji Ravji, who aimed to connect the Darbargadh Palace with the Nazarbagh Palace.
