NEW DELHI/MORBI: As the death toll touched 135 in the Morbi bridge collapse, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site on Tuesday after conducting an aerial survey of the affected area. The collapsed bridge, which was built in the British era over the Machchu river, linked Darbargadh Palace and Swaminarayan Temple in Morbi town.
The Prime Minister arrived at Darbargadh Palace, where he was briefed by officials about the incident, and inspected the collapsed bridge and the snapped cables. The PM later visited Morbi Civil Hospital to meet the survivors of the tragedy.
Earlier Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi chaired a high-level meeting in Gandhinagar to review the Morbi situation. He was briefed on the rescue and relief operations and other aspects of the tragedy.
Modi made it clear that all victims must get every possible assistance. The meet was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, state home minister Harsh Sanghvi, Gujarat’s chief secretary and DGP and other top officials.
The Prime Minister stressed that a “detailed and extensive” inquiry was absolutely essential to “identify all aspects relating to the mishap”. He said: “The authorities must stay in touch with the affected families and ensure that they receive all possible help in this tragic hour.”
The PM later tweeted: “Went to Morbi, which witnessed the horrific bridge mishap. Met the bereaved families and extended condolences. I visited the site of the tragedy and went to the hospital where the injured are recovering. Also met those involved in rescue ops and chaired a review meeting.”
The PM met the persons involved in the rescue operation before meeting the survivors at the hospital.
At the hospital, the Prime Minister, while speaking to the survivors, enquired about the incident and about the treatment they were receiving at the hospital.
Before the Prime Minister reached Morbi late this afternoon, the local authorities worked around the clock to spruce up the civil hospital for the visit. Labourers and hospital staff were pressed into service to paint the entire hospital overnight, clean the toilets and even brought in new drinking water coolers. However, in the rush, the authorities “forgot” to connect the drinking water coolers to the taps.
The Opposition, particularly the Congress and the AAP, tore into the state government for “beautifying Morbi for the PM’s visit while neglecting the victims and survivors.”
Questions are also being raised over the local authorities’ alleged move to shield the owners of the Oreva Group, which was given the contract to renovate the bridge. So far, nine persons, including four employees of the Oreva Group, have been arrested. The police has registered an FIR on charges of culpable homicide against the agencies which were given the task of maintenance and operation of the bridge. 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).
