Tag: bridge

Morbi Bridge tragedy: Civic body, councillors claim innocence

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Morbi: The Morbi municipality on Wednesday passed a resolution saying the civic body never gave its approval to hand over a suspension bridge in the town to Oreva Group, a day after the Gujarat government sought a fresh reply to a show-cause notice over the bridge collapse that killed 135 people.
In the general board meeting held today to discuss this issue, 41 of 52 councillors of the BJP-ruled municipality submitted a separate reply asserting that the majority of the councillors were not aware of the agreement under which the bridge was handed over to Oreva Group by the municipality for maintenance and operation.
The Gujarat government had on Tuesday asked the Morbi municipality to submit a fresh reply to a show-cause notice as to why it should not be dissolved for failing to discharge its duties before the collapse of the bridge that claimed 135 lives last year.
The Urban Development Department had said in a letter to the chief of the municipality that the civic body should submit a written reply, duly approved by its general body, by February 16.
The show-cause notice was issued on January 18 and the state did not accept a reply dated February 7 sent by the municipality’s lawyer.
In view of the government’s new deadline, the municipality had called an urgent general body meeting on Wednesday, said N K Muchhal, in-charge chief officer of Morbi.
“During today’s meeting, two separate replies, one from the civic body and another from councillors, were submitted. These replies will be sent to the state government for further action,” Muchhal told reporters after the meeting.
Jayrajsinh Jadeja, vice president of the municipality, said the office bearers of the civic body, including the president, vice president and standing committee chairman, are “innocent” because the proposal and subsequent agreement to hand over the bridge to Oreva Group in March last year was never approved through a general board meeting.

“We are not guilty because the agreement to hand over the bridge to Oreva Group was never discussed or approved in the general board meeting. Moreover, we have also mentioned in our reply that Morbi municipality was ruled by Congress when the first agreement was approved by the board (in 2007) for the maintenance of the bridge,” said Jadeja.
On behalf of the 41 councillors, Bhavik Jaria told reporters that 49 of 52 councillors were not aware of the agreement signed by the Morbi municipality with Oreva Group in March last year for the maintenance and operation of the bridge.
“In our reply, we have stated that 49 of 52 councillors were not aware of this agreement. As per the law, the municipality’s permission is needed for such agreements. But, we were not informed about it. Even the Special Investigation Team (SIT) never said in its findings that the entire civic body was responsible for this tragedy,” said Jaria.
The ill-fated bridge, which collapsed on October 30 last year, was maintained and operated by Oreva Group under an agreement signed with the Morbi municipality.
In its show-cause notice of January 18, the government wanted to know why the civic body did not take note of the issues raised by Oreva Group between 2018 and 2020 about the dilapidated condition of the bridge and the possibility of a serious accident if it remained open to the public.
Moreover, the municipality did not take any concrete action to take over the bridge from the company in 2017 after the completion of the previous contract despite knowing the situation of the bridge, the notice said.
The state government had on December 13 told the Gujarat High Court during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) that it had decided to dissolve the municipality.
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#Morbi #Bridge #tragedy #Civic #body #councillors #claim #innocence
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 15, 2023
Bridge In Reasi Collapses, 2 Injured As 2 Vehicles Fall Into Rivulet

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M S Nazki
Jammu, Feb 13 (GNS): A bridge over rivulet in Mahore area of Reasi collapsed when two loaded dumpers were crossing on it last evening, officials said.
They said both the dumpers, one having registration number JK02CW-9495 and other one without registration plate, fell in Badora rivulet connecting Mahore and Chassan Tehsils.
Drivers of the vehicles, identified as Amjid Khan and Showkat Ali, both residents of Kotranka Rajouri, were injured and were shifted to hospital by rescuers including police.
SDM Mazahir Hussein Shah confirmed to GNS collapsing of the bridge and injuries to drivers as well as damage to the dumpers. (GNS)
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#Bridge #Reasi #Collapses #Injured #Vehicles #Fall #Rivulet
( With inputs from : thegnskashmir.com )

February 13, 2023
Can disaster diplomacy after tragic earthquakes bridge political differences?

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Ankara: Natural disasters usually work to unite people to put aside political differences, and it’s been the case for the deadly earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria.
The catastrophe may also have an impact on international relations. Countries at odds with Turkey and Syria have rallied in solidarity with the two quake-hit countries, sending batches of aid and rescue teams, Xinhua news agency reported.
However, it’s unclear whether this dynamic will continue when the disaster has passed or whether new understandings and bridges will be established, experts said.
Over 9,800 rescue personnel from 70 countries have rushed to southeastern Turkey after it was jolted on February 6 by two powerful earthquakes that have killed 31,643 and wounded over 80,000, according to the latest official toll announced on Monday.
This is the worst natural disaster that Turkiye has witnessed. An earthquake in eastern Turkey in 1939 had killed 30,000 people.
Some countries stick out on the long list more than others, such as Greece, Armenia and Cyprus, despite having had difficult or tense relations with Ankara over decades.
However, all of these old rivals have set aside their animosity and given helping hands at a time of disaster.
“Natural disasters are indeed brief moments of conciliation in bilateral disputes. In the case of Turkey and Greece they are both earthquake-prone countries and have come to the aid of one another many times, allowing for reconciliation,” Batu Coskun, an independent political risk analyst, told Xinhua.

“Usually when the crisis subsides, bilateral tensions reassert themselves, though with less severity,” he pointed out.
Earthquakes that struck both Turkey and Greece in 1999 gave rise to “earthquake diplomacy” and improved previously tense ties between the two nations. Before tensions reemerged, the post-quake mood persisted for a few years.
Ankara and Athens have decades-old feuds and have repeatedly come to the brink of war. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias arrived on Sunday for a visit to Turkey’s disaster-struck Adana province, where he was warmly greeted by his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu who praised Greek relief efforts.
“We do not need to wait for natural disasters to improve our relations,” Dendias was quoted as saying by the local press.
Turkey has not had diplomatic or commercial ties with Armenia since the 1990s. The two countries also reconnected for the first time in decades in the wake of the earthquakes.
A border gate between the two countries has been opened for the first time in more than three decades to allow aid for victims of the devastating earthquakes in southern Turkey, according to the semi-official Anadolu Agency.
“The land border with Armenia being opened is a significant milestone. Likely, this event will become a major motivator for both countries to normalize relations and exchange ambassadors,” Coskun said.
He added that in the post-crisis period when foreign policy again becomes a priority for the government after disaster relief, “we will see the impact of this.”
Israel has also sent aid to Turkey. The two countries have improved their relations recently after over a decade of discord.
Tulin Daloglu, a journalist and foreign policy analyst, said that Turkey should take lessons from this tragedy and try to move to a softer line in foreign policy towards some countries it has problems with.
She specifically mentioned Sweden, whose NATO membership bid has met with objections from Ankara over security issues.
“Yet, Sweden immediately rushed to assist Turkey in the aftermath of the disaster,” Daloglu said, adding that such an event can change the way a country is seen by the public opinion of the host country.
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#disaster #diplomacy #tragic #earthquakes #bridge #political #differences
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 13, 2023
Two Injured In Bridge Collapse

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SRINAGAR: A bridge over rivulet in Mahore area of Reasi collapsed when two loaded dumpers were crossing on it last evening, officials said.
Bridge collapses in Reasi
Quoting officials news agency GNS reported that both the dumpers, one having registration number JK02CW-9495 and other one without registration plate, fell in Badora rivulet connecting Mahore and Chassan Tehsils.
Drivers of the vehicles, identified as Amjid Khan and Showkat Ali, both residents of Kotranka Rajouri, were injured and were shifted to hospital by rescuers including police.
SDM Mazahir Hussein Shah confirmed the collapsing of the bridge and injuries to drivers as well as damage to the dumpers.

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#Injured #Bridge #Collapse
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 13, 2023
Two Decades On, Jetty Bridge Baramulla Far From Completion

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by Masrat Nabi
BARAMULLA: 21 years on, Jetty Bridge on river Jhelum in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district is yet to be completed by the Jammu and Kashmir administration.
Pertinent to mention that in 2002, the foundation stone was laid for the construction of the bridge and work was allotted to Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC)-a government undertaking construction agency.
This bridge was supposed to be an alternate crossing over the river Jhelum that will bypass the town of Baramulla, significantly reducing traffic through the main town. The bridge would connect Khoja Bagh to Rafiabad’s Janbazpora and Chakloo areas and provide an alternate route for traffic between Baramulla and Kupwara.
The bridge has been a source of much anticipation and frustration for locals, as the potential to improve transportation infrastructure in the region continues to remain unfulfilled.
“We’ve been waiting for the bridge to be finished for over two decades, but it appears that the administration is too busy elsewhere,” said Abdul Rashid, a resident of Baramulla.
“In the last two decades, the executing agency has been able to erect only one pillar of the bridge,” says another local, Irfan Ahmad.
“It would take only 10 minutes to reach Rafiabad if the jetty bridge becomes a reality. In the absence of this bridge, we have to take a longer route and travel through the main town to reach Rafiabad,” Ahmad said.

JKPCC could not construct the bridge in all these 2 decades and now the administration has handed over the project to the R&B Department.
When contacted, a top official from district administration, rues lack of required funds to complete the construction of bridge.
He said that the delay in the completion of the bridge resulted in the cost escalation of project as the project cost soured from Rs 2 crore to around Rs 18 crore.
Executive Engineer R&B Division Baramulla said, “As of now, no construction work is going on at the site.”
He also refused to comment about the work to be completed by the department.
When tried to contact Shiekh Javid Maqbool, Superintending Engineer R&B, Baramulla- Kupwara Circle, he didn’t respond to our repeated calls.

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#Decades #Jetty #Bridge #Baramulla #Completion
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 12, 2023
Guj court rejects bail pleas of seven accused in Morbi bridge collapse case

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Morbi: A court here on Saturday rejected the bail applications of seven people arrested in connection with the collapse of a suspension bridge in Morbi town of Gujarat, in which 135 people were killed.
The court of principal sessions judge P C Joshi refused to grant bail to the seven accused, including two managers of Oreva Group, the company which was given the contract for operation and maintenance of the bridge.
The British-era bridge on Machchhu river collapsed on October 30, 2022, days after it was reopened following repairs.
Jaysukh Patel, the managing director of Oreva Group, had surrendered before a court here on February 1 before his arrest.
The Morbi police had last week filed a chargesheet in the case, in which 10 persons have been arrested so far, including Patel.
The other nine arrested persons include two managers of the firm, two ticket-booking clerks, three security guards and two sub-contractors who were engaged for the repair works by Oreva Group.
The bail pleas of these nine persons were rejected earlier by the Gujarat High Court and sessions court. Except the two sub-contractors, the other seven once again approached court for bail on Thursday.
Earlier, a special investigation team (SIT), which was formed by the state government to probe the collapse, had cited several lapses on the part of the firm.
Nearly 250 persons were on the hanging bridge, a popular tourist site, when it caved in.

According to the SIT, the lapses included lack of restriction on the number of persons accessing the bridge and no curb on sale of tickets, which led to unrestricted movement on the structure, and carrying out repairs without consulting experts.
The probe had revealed the new metal flooring done by the firm had increased the weight of the structure and it had failed to change the rusted cables on which the entire bridge was hanging.
Apart from this, the contractors hired by Patel’s firm were not qualified to carry out such repair and renovation work, the SIT stated.
The probe report also revealed the Oreva Group did not hire any expert agency to assess the load-bearing capacity of the carriageway before throwing it open to the public after repair and renovation work.
The prosecution had earlier informed the lower court that the firm had sold 3,165 tickets on the day of the collapse alone and there was no coordination between ticket booking offices on both sides of the bridge.
All 10 accused, including Jaysukh Patel, have been charged under the Indian Penal Code sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 336 (act which endangers human life), 337 (causing hurt to any person by doing any rash or negligent act) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by doing rash or negligent act).
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#Guj #court #rejects #bail #pleas #accused #Morbi #bridge #collapse #case
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 4, 2023
Morbi bridge collapse: Oreva group MD Jaysukh Patel sent in 7-day police custody

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Morbi: A court in Gujarat’s Morbi town on Wednesday sent managing director of Oreva Group Jaysukh Patel in seven-day police custody in a case related to the Morbi suspension bridge collapse which claimed 135 lives last year.
Chief Judicial Magistrate M J Khan sent Patel in the custody of the special investigation team (SIT) formed by the state government to probe the case till February 8.
The SIT had sought a 14-day remand, government prosecutor Sanjay Vora told reporters.
As many as 135 people were killed and many others injured when a suspension bridge on a river collapsed in Gujarat’s Morbi town on October 30, 2022.
Patel, whose company was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the bridge, surrendered before the court on Tuesday evening after the court issued an arrest warrant against him. He was later arrested by the police.
As part of maintenance, the company carried out only cosmetic repairs of the bridge rather than changing the cable wires, the prosecution told the court, Vora said.
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#Morbi #bridge #collapse #Oreva #group #Jaysukh #Patel #7day #police #custody
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 1, 2023
Morbi bridge collapse: Oreva group MD Jaysukh Patel sent to 7-day police custody

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Morbi: A court in Gujarat’s Morbi town on Wednesday sent managing director of Oreva Group Jaysukh Patel in seven-day police custody in a case related to the Morbi suspension bridge collapse which claimed 135 lives last year.
Chief Judicial Magistrate M J Khan sent Patel in the custody of the special investigation team (SIT) formed by the state government to probe the case till February 8.
The SIT had sought a 14-day remand, government prosecutor Sanjay Vora told reporters.
As many as 135 people were killed and many others injured when a suspension bridge on a river collapsed in Gujarat’s Morbi town on October 30, 2022.
Patel, whose company was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the bridge, surrendered before the court on Tuesday evening after the court issued an arrest warrant against him. He was later arrested by the police.
As part of maintenance, the company carried out only cosmetic repairs of the bridge rather than changing the cable wires, the prosecution told the court, Vora said.
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#Morbi #bridge #collapse #Oreva #group #Jaysukh #Patel #7day #police #custody
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 1, 2023
MD of firm that operated Morbi suspension bridge surrenders before Gujarat court

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Morbi: Managing Director of Oreva Group Jaysukh Patel, an accused in the last year’s Morbi suspension bridge collapse case who is facing culpable homicide not amounting to murder charges, on Tuesday surrendered before a court here in Gujarat and was subsequently sent to jail.
As many as 135 people were killed and scores others injured when a suspension bridge collapsed in Gujarat’s Morbi town on October 30 last year.
Patel, whose company was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the carriageway, surrendered before the Morbi-based court of chief judicial magistrate which had issued an arrest warrant against him. The court accepted his application for surrender and sent him to jail under judicial custody.
The businessman was named as the tenth accused in the case in a chargesheet filed by the police on January 27.
Ajanta Manufacturing Ltd (Oreva Group) was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the British-era suspension bridge on the Machchhu river that collapsed, days after its repairs. Nearly 250 persons were on the more than a century-old hanging bridge, a popular tourist site, when it caved in.
“Jaysukh Patel surrendered before the court of chief judicial magistrate MJ Khan which had issued an arrest warrant against him under section 70 of the CrPC. The court accepted his application and sent him to judicial custody. The police will approach the court and seek his custody,” said Dilip Agechaniya, a lawyer representing families of the victims.
The CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) section 70 deals with warrant of arrest.
As the Oreva Group Managing Director arrived in the court for surrender, angry kin of the victims who had gathered outside the court shouted slogans against him.

After his surrender, Patel was taken for a medical check-up.
“Jaysukh Patel surrendered in the court today. He was sent to judicial custody. We will soon initiate the process of seeking his custody from the court,” said Morbi Superintendent of Police Rahul Tripathi.
In the chargesheet running in more than 1,200 pages and filed in the court of chief judicial magistrate MJ Khan by Deputy Superintendent of Police P S Zala, Patel was shown as the tenth accused.
Earlier, fearing arrest in the case, Patel had moved an anticipatory bail plea in the court and it was due to come up for hearing on February 1.
On October 31, a day after the tragedy, the Morbi police had arrested nine persons in connection with the case, including two managers of the Oreva Group, two ticket booking clerks, two sub-contractors who repaired the bridge and three security guards deployed on the cable-stayed structure to guide and control the crowd.
Two weeks ago, the same court issued an arrest warrant against Patel.
All the ten accused, including Patel, have been charged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 336 (act which endangers human life), 337 (causing hurt to any person by doing any rash or negligent act) and under 338 (causing grievous hurt by doing rash or negligent act).
During a suo motu (on its own motion) hearing on the tragedy in the Gujarat High Court recently, the Oreva Group offered to pay compensation to the victims. However, the court made it clear the compensation would “not absolve it of any liability”.
A special investigation team (SIT) formed by the state government to probe the collapse had cited several lapses on the part of the firm.
The lapses included no restriction on the number of persons accessing the bridge and no curb on sale of tickets, which led to unrestricted movement on the bridge, as well as carrying out repairs without consulting experts.
The probe had revealed the new metal flooring done by the firm had increased the weight of the structure, while the rusted cables on which the entire bridge was hanging were not changed by the Oreva Group.
Moreover, both contractors hired by Patel’s firm were not qualified to carry out such repair and renovation work, according to the SIT.
The probe report also revealed the Ahmedabad-based Oreva Group did not hire any expert agency to assess the load-bearing capacity of the carriageway before throwing it open to the public after repair and renovation work.
The group had sold 3,165 tickets on October 30 (the day of the collapse) alone and there was no coordination between ticket booking offices on both sides of the bridge, the lower court was informed in the past by the prosecution.
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 31, 2023
Hyderabad: Mir Alam Tank’s cable bridge plan comes to standstill

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Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) announced a plan to construct the city’s second cable bridge at Mir Alam Tank in the old city in December 2021. Several announcements were made by the Municipal Administration Department in this regard and it was claimed that with the construction of the second cable bridge in the city of Hyderabad, tourism activities will be increased.
The department had announced the commencement of construction work of the cable bridge at a cost of Rs 220 crore, but since then there has been no progress in this project. It is being said that unless the budget for these works is released, steps to start development works are not possible.
Ten months after the HMDA sought a detailed report for the construction of the cable bridge at Mir Alam Tank, experts handed over it and the authority announced to approve the project, however, the inauguration ceremony of the project was not held so far.
The construction of the cable bridge at Mir Alam Tank will not only record an increase in tourism activities but will also provide a lot of facilities to the people of the surrounding areas. The 2.5 km cable bridge will also provide a lot of relief to pedestrians.
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#Hyderabad #Mir #Alam #Tanks #cable #bridge #plan #standstill
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 29, 2023