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Morbi bridge collapse updates: Four of nine accused sent to four days in police custody

| Updated: Wednesday, November 2, 2022, 9:57 [IST]

Morbi, Nov 02: Two people are still missing and the rescue operation of the National Disaster Response Force is challenged by the water hyacinth and the lack of visibility in the dirty water.

As many as 140 bodies have been recovered from the Machchhu river in Gujarat's Morbi town by the armed forces, National Disaster Response Force and other rescue agencies after the British-era suspension bridge collapsed on Sunday.

Morbi bridge collapse updates: Death toll rises to more than 130; High-powered committee formed

Newest First Oldest First

9:56 AM, 2 Nov

Coverage on this live blog has ended.

8:04 AM, 2 Nov

Citing Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report, Panchal told the court that forensic experts believed that the main cable of the bridge snapped because of the weight of the new flooring.

8:03 AM, 2 Nov

The magistrate’s court remanded four of the arrested accused — two managers of OREVA Group and two sub-contractors who had repaired the bridge — in police custody till Saturday.

8:02 AM, 2 Nov

As the political blamegame is going on over the tragedy ahead of the election in the state, Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday asked why the Gujarat government and the BJP have not yet answered the basic questions, even 48 hours after the tragedy. "If a question is asked, that is politicising a tragedy. If an answer is not given, what is that?" Chidambaram tweeted.

8:01 AM, 2 Nov

Oreva group, which makes clocks and e-bikes, was given the contract for repairing by Morbi Municipality. Two managers of Oreva and two subcontractors who carried out the recent repair are among those arrested.

8:01 AM, 2 Nov

The court was told that the contractor who carried out the repair work of the suspension bridge was not qualified for the job.

11:07 PM, 1 Nov

Updates for this Live blog have ended for the day.

10:37 PM, 1 Nov

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said assembly elections in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home turf were delayed so that he can inaugurate “more bridges like the one that fell in Morbi” in Gujarat.

9:41 PM, 1 Nov

A Gujarat family lost six of its members, including two children, while on an outing at the Morbi bridge.

9:04 PM, 1 Nov

State minister Rajendra Trivedi said as many as 170 persons were rescued after the collapse.

9:04 PM, 1 Nov

Key learnings from the inquiry must be implemented at the earliest and authorities must stay in touch with the affected families and ensure that they receive all possible help in this tragic hour, he said.

9:03 PM, 1 Nov

"The need of the hour is to conduct a detailed and extensive inquiry which will identify all aspects relating to this mishap," PM Modi said.

6:24 PM, 1 Nov

PM Modi meets family members of 26 people killed in Morbi tragedy.

6:13 PM, 1 Nov

Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong has written to PM Narendra Modi to convey condolences over the bridge collapse in Morbi, Gujarat: Singapore High Commissioner Simon Wong

5:35 PM, 1 Nov

PM Modi holds meeting with Morbi SP.

5:07 PM, 1 Nov

The Prime Minister will meet 26 family members of the victims who lost their lives in the bridge collapse.

5:07 PM, 1 Nov

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches the SP office in Gujarat's Morbi after visiting the incident site of the bridge collapse and meeting the injured at Morbi Civil Hospital.

4:43 PM, 1 Nov

PM Narendra Modi arrives at the Morbi Civil Hospital to meet the injured

4:30 PM, 1 Nov

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, visits the incident site in Morbi, Gujarat, while the search and rescue operation is underway in the Machchhu river.

4:11 PM, 1 Nov

Prime Minister Narendra Modi approaches the incident site in Morbi, Gujarat, while the search and rescue operation is underway in the Machchhu river.

3:29 PM, 1 Nov

Naim Sheikh, admitted to Civil Hospital in Morbi, said, "6 of us had gone there, 5 came back, one died. I can swim. My friends and I together managed to save a few people. It was heart-rending. I got hurt when I was bringing the people to safety."

3:29 PM, 1 Nov

China's President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence to President Droupadi Murmu & PM Narendra Modi over Morbi Bridge Collapse, Reuters reported citing Chinese broadcaster CCTV

2:47 PM, 1 Nov

We're expecting the dead bodies of 2 people & are conducting a thorough search. Divers are conducting searches deep into the river. 12 boats along with a team of 125 people deployed at the spot: Prasanna Kumar, Commandant, NDRF Vadodara

2:46 PM, 1 Nov

Rescue operation continues at the site in Machchhu River in Morbi where a bridge collapsed leaving 135 dead & scores injured till now.

Gujarat | Rescue operation continues at the site in Machchhu River in Morbi where a bridge collapsed leaving 135 dead & scores injured till now. pic.twitter.com/37owK4jZ0y
— ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2022

1:17 PM, 1 Nov

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. 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.

1:16 PM, 1 Nov

Egypt in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its deep condolences and sympathy to the friendly country of India and to the families of the victims in connection with the collapse of a bridge in western India in the state of Gujarat, which resulted in the death and injury of dozens of people.

12:51 PM, 1 Nov

Aam Aadmi Party share images of renovation work being done at Morbi civil hospital

Morbi Civil Hospital का दृश्य...

कल प्रधानमंत्री के Photoshoot में कोई कमी ना रह जाए इसलिए अस्पताल की मरम्मत की जा रही है।

अगर भाजपा ने 27 वर्षों में काम किया होता तो आधी रात को अस्पताल को चमकाने की जरूरत न पड़ती।#BJPCheatsGujarat pic.twitter.com/h83iUmPzKA
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) October 31, 2022

10:33 AM, 1 Nov

Former Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel refuted claims of the Gujarat government having any direct or indirect role and said that the renovation and opening of the bridge were done by the Morbi administration. The Morbi bridge collapse incident claimed the lives of 134 people.

10:33 AM, 1 Nov

Walls and ceilings were freshly painted and extra staff brought in for cleaning ahead of PM Modi's visit today to meet the survivors. New water coolers were also reportedly brought in.

10:33 AM, 1 Nov

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep sadness over a tragic bridge collapse in Gujarat's Morbi city and expressed condolences to the families of the victims and injured.

8:02 AM, 31 Oct

Early morning visuals from the accident site in Morbi where more than 100 people have lost their lives after a cable bridge collapsed.

Gujarat | Early morning visuals from the accident site in #Morbi where more than 100 people have lost their lives after a cable bridge collapsed.

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi is also present at the spot. pic.twitter.com/TxtzWySFGT
— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2022

8:02 AM, 31 Oct

Early morning visuals from Morbi Civil Hospital where the patients injured in the Morbi cable bridge collapse are admitted.

Gujarat | Early morning visuals from Morbi Civil Hospital where the patients injured in the Morbi cable bridge collapse are admitted.

More than 100 people died after the cable bridge collapsed yesterday evening. pic.twitter.com/S9zv3s8HIP
— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2022

8:03 AM, 31 Oct

The rescue operation is still underway. Indian Army had reached here around 3 at night. We are trying to recover the bodies. Teams of NDRF are also carrying out rescue operations: Major Gaurav, Indian Army

8:03 AM, 31 Oct

More than 100 deaths have been reported till early morning. Around 177 people have been rescued. 19 people are under treatment. Army, Navy, Air Force, NDRF, Fire Brigade are conducting search operations: Gujarat Information Department

8:03 AM, 31 Oct

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi briefs on Morbi bridge tragedy

8:04 AM, 31 Oct

Everyone worked all through the night. Navy, NDRF, Air Force and Army reached quickly. More than 200 persons have worked the entire night (for search and rescue operations): Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi

8:04 AM, 31 Oct

A criminal case has been registered. An investigation has begun today under the leadership of Range IGP: Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi

8:04 AM, 31 Oct

132 deaths have been reported so far: Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi

8:04 AM, 31 Oct

CM constituted a high power committee yesterday itself while leaving from Ahmedabad. All officers, posted at different locations, were asked to report at Morbi by 2 am. The investigation is going on: Gujarat Home Minister

8:05 AM, 31 Oct

Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "Several people lost their lives in yesterday's incident in Gujarat. First of all,I express condolences to families of all those who died in the unfortunate incident. May all those who died, rest in peace"

#WATCH | Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "Several people lost their lives in yesterday's incident in Gujarat. First of all,I express condolences to families of all those who died in the unfortunate incident. May all those who died, rest in peace"#MorbiBridgeCollapse pic.twitter.com/9mRauVDib6
— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2022

8:05 AM, 31 Oct

Indian Army teams deployed in Morbi, Gujarat carried out search and rescue operations for survivors of the mishap. All three defence services have deployed their teams for search operations: Defence officials

#MorbiBridgeCollapse | Indian Army teams deployed in Morbi, Gujarat carried out search and rescue operations for survivors of the mishap. All three defence services have deployed their teams for search operations: Defence officials pic.twitter.com/tfEjCW3MhE
— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2022

8:06 AM, 31 Oct

Three Indian Coast Guard teams consisting of divers, equipment, boats and other material have been deployed on-site at Morbi since last night: Defence officials

8:23 AM, 31 Oct

"I sell tea there every Sunday. People were hanging from cables & then slipped down. I didn't sleep & helped people entire night. It was heart-wrenching to see a 7-8-month-pregnant woman die. Never saw anything like that in my life," says an eye-witness

Gujarat | "I sell tea there every Sunday. People were hanging from cables & then slipped down. I didn't sleep & helped people entire night. It was heart-wrenching to see a 7-8-month-pregnant woman die. Never saw anything like that in my life," says an eye-witness of #MorbiTragedy pic.twitter.com/sippTi2oaC
— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2022

8:25 AM, 31 Oct

Following the accident, Modi has cancelled his road show, scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad Monday ahead of the state Assembly polls, BJP told news agency PTI. A ''page committee sammelan'', scheduled to be held on Tuesday in Modi's virtual presence, has been put off, they added.

8:26 AM, 31 Oct

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a tweet that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently in Gujarat, spoke to Patel and officials. Modi sought urgent mobilisation of rescue teams and asked that the situation be closely and continuously monitored, and all possible help be extended to those affected.

8:27 AM, 31 Oct

Sandeep Singh Jhala, the Morbi municipal chief officer, said that the newly-renovated cable bridge was opened without official permission. It was opened to the public on October 26.

8:29 AM, 31 Oct

Congress' national spokesperson Supriya Shrinate took to Twitter to condemn the tragedy in Gujarat and asked, "Who is responsible for 90 people killed, 100 injured?" She also added that the Morbi bridge was opened without official permission, citing the Morbi Municipal Chief Officer.

8:29 AM, 31 Oct

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the victims of the mishap in Morbi. "PM @narendramodi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each of those who lost their lives in the mishap in Morbi. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000."

8:53 AM, 31 Oct

"I can't describe it in words. There were children as well. I helped people as members of my own family. I also gave my vehicle to carry bodies to the hospital. The admin also helped too. I never saw anything like this ever," says Haseena, an eyewitness

Gujarat | "I can't describe it in words. There were children as well. I helped people as members of my own family. I also gave my vehicle to carry bodies to the hospital. The admin also helped too. I never saw anything like this ever," says Haseena, an eyewitness to #MorbiTragedy pic.twitter.com/dJ7lgj9BoU
— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2022

8:54 AM, 31 Oct

Two teams of SDRF are here, one local team from NDRF and another from Baroda are here. Army, Air Force, Fire Dept & Municipality teams are here. Their coordination is good: Rajkot District Collector, Arun Mahesh Babu

8:54 AM, 31 Oct

Rajkot Fire Brigade deployed 6 boats, 6 ambulances, 2 rescue vans & 60 jawans. A total of 20 rescue boats from Baroda, Ahmedabad, Gondal, Jamnagar, Kutch are working.12 fire tenders, rescue vans & over 15 ambulances are here: Ilesh Kher, Chief Fire Officer, Rajkot

9:05 AM, 31 Oct

“The bridge is a property of the Morbi municipality, but we had handed it over to Oreva Group a few months ago for maintenance and operations for a duration of 15 years. However, the private firm threw the bridge open to visitors without notifying us and therefore, we couldn’t get a safety audit of the bridge conducted,” Sandeepsinh Zala, Chief Officer, Morbi Municipality, said. “It was opened to the public after the completion of the renovation work. But the local municipality had not yet issued any fitness certificate (after the renovation work),” he told The Indian Express.

9:09 AM, 31 Oct

Such a number of casualties in one area is a first for us. Usually, it is an incident of boat capsizing. The only challenge is that this is muddy water that causes visibility issues when our divers go underwater: VVN Prasanna Kumar, NDRF Commandant

9:40 AM, 31 Oct

My thoughts with deceased, their families: PM Modi on Morbi Bridge Tragedy

9:40 AM, 31 Oct

Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal, who had scheduled a road show for the by-election in Haryana’s Adampur today, canceled the program in wake of the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy.

10:10 AM, 31 Oct

FIR filed by Morbi B Division Police Inspector Prakashbhai Dekavadiya against maintenance & management agencies of the bridge under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) & 114 (abettor present when offence is committed) of the India Penal Code.

10:10 AM, 31 Oct

CM of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel, reached the collector’s office in Morbi early this morning, got all details of matters including search operation, relief-rescue operation, treatment of the injured and gave necessary instructions to the system in Morbi bridge collapse incident, news agency ANI reported.

10:11 AM, 31 Oct

“Even as I speak before you people, my heart is with those affected due to the tragedy. Rarely in my life, would I have experienced such pain. On one hand, there is a pain-riddled heart and on the other hand, there is the path to duty,” Hindustan Times quoted the Prime Minister as saying at the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas event in Gujarat.

10:11 AM, 31 Oct

“The Rasthriya Ekta Diwas and Sardar Patel’s anniversary are not just dates. They symbolize our culture. When a tragedy strikes, India unites,” PM Modi underlined. “When Morbi was hit by tragedy, Indians everywhere prayed. Locals helped in rescue operations.”

10:13 AM, 31 Oct

Drones are being used to help in the search and rescue operation in Morbi, following the incident of bridge collapse.

#WATCH | Gujarat: Drones being used to help in the search and rescue operation in Morbi, following the incident of #MorbiBridgeCollapse

The death toll stands at 132, operation is underway. pic.twitter.com/qlA8BCtnva
— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2022