Page 18 - Gujarat

Morbi bridge collapse in Gujarat result of massive corruption: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said the Morbi bridge collapse in Gujarat was a result of massive corruption and prayed for those who lost their lives in the incident. The suspension bridge on the Machchhu river in Gujarat's Morbi city collapsed Sunday evening, killing 134 people, a senior police official had said. He also demanded that the Gujarat government should tender its resignation in the wake of such a big incident and the assembly polls be held immediately. "The Morbi bridge collapse was a result of massive corruption and I pray for the victims. Why was a watchmaking company which had no experience of bridge construction allowed to do so?" he said during a press conference. The AAP supremo also said that the BJP is struggling in Gujarat because the Aam Aadmi Party is there to challenge it in the upcoming polls.

PM asks Raj, Guj, MP, Maha govts to prepare roadmap to develop Mangarh Dham

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked the governments of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to hold detailed discussions and prepare a roadmap to develop the Mangarh Dham. The dham, a memorial for around 1,500 tribals massacred by the British army in 1913, is located in Rajasthan's Banswara district on the Gujarat and the desert state's border, a region with a large tribal population. The four states together under the leadership of the Centre can develop the memorial more so that tribal leader Govind Guru's place, Mangarh Dham, can create an identity at the global level, Modi said addressing a gathering. The tribals massacred in 1913 were being led by social reformer and tribal leader Govind Guru. "These four states and the government of India has to take it (the dham) to a new height. In that direction, the government is fully committed," he said while addressing a gathering at the memorial. He said that it can be called a national monument or any other n

Morbi bridge tragedy an act of fraud or mere accident, asks Uddhav faction

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction on Tuesday said the Gujarat government cannot shirk its responsibility for the loss of lives in Morbi bridge collapse and asked whether it should be termed as an "act of fraud, conspiracy or a mere accident". When a similar incident took place in West Bengal in 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had slammed that state government and called it an act of God, an editorial in the Thackeray camp's mouthpiece 'Saamana' said. The Marathi daily also questioned the quality of renovation of the Morbi suspension bridge, which was opened for the public four days before it collapsed. The suspension bridge on the Machchhu river in Gujarat's Morbi city collapsed on Sunday evening, killing 134 people, a senior police official earlier said. "Will the lives lost come back? The company responsible for the maintenance of the bridge should be probed, but the Gujarat government cannot shirk its responsibility, the editorial in Saamana said. Should this incide

Morbi bridge collapse: SC to hear plea on Nov 14 seeking judicial probe

The plea was mentioned by advocate Vishal Tiwari before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India U.U. Lalit

Morbi bridge collapse: Death toll rises to 135, rescue operations still on

With one more injured succumbing at the District hospital on Tuesday morning, the death toll stands at 135, said the Morbi District Collector.Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) along with local administration and other agencies are carrying out search and rescue operations at the spot of the Morbi bridge collapse."With one more injured succumbing at the District hospital a while ago, the death toll stands at 135. A total of 14 persons are still hospitalized. One person is still reported to be missing and a search is on for him," told Morbi District Collector.Commandant Prasanna Kumar, NDRF rescue incharge said, "We have been continuing our search and rescue operations since yesterday. We have resumed today morning and continuing. We have not been informed about any official number of persons missing but it is suspected that three or four persons may be there in the river bed. Though we have not recovered anybody or a missing person today but we

Morbi hospital gets makeover ahead of PM Modi's visit to meet the injured

The government hospital at Morbi has got a makeover ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the facility to meet those injured in Sunday's suspension bridge collapse which claimed 134 lives. Workers were seen cleaning and painting a portion of the 300-bed hospital, which is a ground plus two-storey structure of three wings, ahead of Modi's visit later Tuesday. Six of those injured in the collapse are undergoing treatment at the hospital, while four to five other injured are being treated at a private hospital, a doctor said. So far, 56 people have been discharged, he added. Portions of the entry gate have been painted in yellow, while some areas inside the hospital have got a coat of white paint. The Congress tweeted images that showed repair work going on inside the Morbi hospital, to launch a tirade against the BJP. The photos posted by Congress on Twitter showed overnight repair work going on inside the Morbi hospital, which included a fresh coat of paint, new tiles on

Congress to launch 'Parivartan Sankalp Yatra' in poll-bound Gujarat

The Congress will take out the 'Gujarat Parivartan Sankalp Yatra' in five zones of the poll-bound state from Tuesday, during which 145 public meetings and 95 rallies will be held along the route covering more than 5,400 km. It will be launched from Vadgam, Bhuj, Somnath, Vadgam, Fagvel and Jambusar, party leaders said. The yatra was earlier scheduled to start on Monday, but was postponed by a day following the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy on Sunday. The Gujarat Assembly polls are due this year-end the Election Commission is yet to announce its schedule. Senior Congress leaders, including Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, his Chhattisgarh counterpart Bhupesh Baghel, former Madhya Pradesh chief ministers Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath, and MLA Sachin Pilot, are expected to join the yatra, party leaders said. "The Congress' 'Parivartan Sankalp Yatra' will be launched in five zones of Gujarat, and 145 public meetings and 95 rallies will be organised throughout the journey. The .

Morbi bridge tragedy: Digvijaya Singh demands Gujarat CM's resignation

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has demanded the resignation of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel over the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy. A Congress delegation led by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Gujarat party president Jagdish Thakor and former Madhya Pradesh CM Digvijaya Singh visited Morbi on Monday, a day after the suspension bridge over the Machchhu river collapsed. Rajkot Range Inspector General Ashok Yadav told PTI on Monday that 134 people were killed after the bridge collapsed on Sunday evening. Talking to reporters on Monday, Digvijaya Singh claimed it was a "government-made tragedy" and demanded that the state chief minister resign on moral grounds. "I don't want to do politics, but I have learnt that BJP ministers, MPs, collector and Morbi district superintendent of police were holding a meeting at a nearby place when the bridge collapsed on Sunday evening. They did not stop the meeting to come here," the Congress veteran further claimed. Singh al

Morbi tragedy effect: Hourly cap on visitors at Atal Bridge opened in Aug

The Ahmedabad civic body has decided to restrict the number of persons on the pedestrian-only Atal Bridge on the Sabarmati River here to 3,000 per hour, after the Morbi bridge tragedy in which 134 people were killed, an official said. The 300-metre long and 14-metre wide Atal Bridge, which connects the flower garden on the western-end of the riverfront and the upcoming arts and culture centre on the eastern-end, has become a huge attraction for people since it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 27. "Though the bridge is capable of bearing the weight of nearly 12,000 people, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has decided to limit the number of visitors on it in view of the Morbi bridge tragedy," the civic-run Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Ltd, which manages the structure, said in a statement on Monday. "As a precaution, we have decided to limit the number of visitors on the Atal Bridge. Now, only 3,000 visitors will be given entry every hour. No

PM Modi to visit Morbi today to take stock of situation: Gujarat CMO

At least 132 people were killed and over 100 are receiving treatment for their injuries sustained after a cable suspension bridge in Morbi town collapsed on Sunday

First fully solar village of Modhera lights up the lives of poor residents

"Electricity has helped us to save time and produce more products," Prajapati said

Antonio Guterres 'deeply saddened' by Morbi bridge tragedy: Spokesperson

The suspension bridge over Machchhu river in Gujarat collapsed on Sunday sending hundreds of people plunging into the waters below

Our hearts are with India: US President Biden on Morbi bridge collapse

'The United States and India are indispensable partners, with deep bonds between our citizens. In this difficult hour, we will continue to stand with and support the Indian people'

SC seeks status of inquiry commission on hospital fire from Gujarat govt

The Supreme Court Monday asked the Gujarat government to apprise it whether the report of a commission of inquiry headed by Justice D A Mehta (retd), which had probed two incidents of fire at hospitals in Rajkot and Ahmedabad in 2020, has been tabled in assembly and if not, by when it will be done. A bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Hima Kohli also asked the Gujarat government to file an affidavit indicating steps taken in view of the findings of the Justice Mehta (retd) commission. The top court was hearing a suo motu matter on the proper treatment of COVID-19 patients and dignified handling of the dead in the Gujarat hospitals in which it had taken cognizance of fire incidents during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. At the outset, senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for some of the kin of victims of fire incidents said some kind of strict action is needed and court must take note of the incident, which had happened in Gujarat on Sunday. The bench told Dave

Youth Congress takes out candle march to pay tribute to Morbi victims

The Youth Congress paid tribute to the victims of the bridge collapse in Gujarat's Morbi town by organising a candle march from its office to the Jantar Mantar, where its workers paid homage to dead

Wall clock, e-bike maker Oreva group at centre of Morbi bridge collapse

Oreva group, which is under scanner following the collapse of a suspension bridge at Morbi in Gujarat that killed at least 130 people, specialises in CFL bulbs, wall clocks and e-bikes and it is not known how it managed to get the contract to maintain an over 100-year-old bridge. Founded by Odhavji Raghavji Patel nearly five decades back, the firm manufactures wall clocks under the popular Ajanta and Orpat brands. Patel, who died earlier this month at the age of 88 years, was a science teacher at school before turning an entrepreneur at the age of 45 years in 1971. With a turnover of nearly Rs 800 crore, the Ajanta Group now manufactures home and electrical appliances, electric lamps, calculators, ceramic products and e-bikes. The suspension bridge, popularly called the 'jhoolta pul', over the Machchhu river was closed seven months ago for repairs and reopened on Gujarati New Year's Day on October 26. In March this year, Oreva Group was awarded the contract to maintain and manage t

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Four arrested in Morbi bridge collapse case, death toll reaches 134: Police

Four persons were arrested on Monday in connection with the collapse of the cable suspension bridge on the Machchhu river in Morbi in Gujarat in which 134 people were killed, police said. "We have arrested four persons so far, the investigation is going on," Rajkot Range IG Ashok Yadav told PTI. He refused to elaborate saying the police will soon brief the media. Police have registered an FIR on charges of culpable homicide against agencies given the task of maintenance and operation of the bridge in Morbi city which collapsed on Sunday evening. 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 Morbi mishap, suspension bridge in Odisha closed for repair works

"The bridge will be closed down for devotees on Tuesday. If the bridge will be found safe, it will be used with a minimum capacity. If needed, the bridge will be completely shut down," said collector

Morbi tragedy: FIR against bridge maintenance and ops agencies, says police

Police have registered an FIR on charges of culpable homicide against agencies given the task of maintenance and operation of the bridge in Gujarat's Morbi city which collapsed, killing 134 people, officials said on Monday. Morbi Municipality's chief officer Sandeepsinh Zala told reporters on Sunday that the city-based clocks and e-bike maker Oreva Group was given the contract for the renovation and operation of the bridge. Morbi Superintendent of Police (SP) Rahul Tripathi said some people have been called for preliminary questioning after the registration of the FIR on Sunday night. No one has been arrested or detained so far in connection with the bridge collapse incident, he said. At least 134 people were killed after the suspension bridge on the Machchhu river in Morbi collapsed on Sunday evening, according to police. In the First Information Report (FIR) lodged at Morbi 'B' division police station on Sunday night, police have shown "agencies responsible for maintenance and .