The Gujarat High Court has directed the state government to submit a report on the action taken against the officials of the Morbi municipality in the aftermath of the tragic bridge collapse in October 2022. This incident, which resulted in the death of 135 people, prompted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate and highlight several lapses by the officials.
A division bench, led by Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Pranav Trivedi, noted that the state government had not yet provided an Action Taken Report (ATR) following the SIT's findings.
The SIT's final report, submitted on October 9, 2023, pointed to significant inaction by the office-bearers of the Morbi Nagarpalika, including its then-chief officer. Chief Justice Agarwal emphasised the need for the government to file an ATR against the erring officials as highlighted by the SIT.
During the hearing, Advocate General Kamal Trivedi assured the court that the ATR would be submitted soon. The court had previously instructed the government to highlight the lapses identified by the SIT in its report.
The court also addressed the compensation and rehabilitation proposal from the Oreva Group, responsible for the bridge's operation and maintenance. This proposal includes a monthly payment of Rs 12,000 to every surviving victim and the kin of deceased victims, as well as covering educational expenses for orphaned children or those who lost a parent. The court directed the Oreva Group’s trust to establish a mechanism for these payments.
In a related development, a man who lost two relatives in the bridge collapse has moved the High Court, seeking directives for the repair and restoration of the heritage British-era structure.
Dilip Chavda, through an affidavit, urged that the repair and restoration be undertaken by a technical team from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, with costs borne by the Oreva Group and state authorities, including the district administration and Morbi municipality. Chavda argued that the bridge, a public asset, should not have been managed as private property.
Chavda's plea also included demands for individualised compensation for the victims: Rs 2 crore for each deceased's kin, Rs 50 lakh for victims with permanent disabilities, and Rs 20 lakh for those injured. He criticised the current uniform compensation approach, suggesting that it was inadequate given the severity of the tragedy.
The British-era suspension bridge over the Machchhu river in Morbi town collapsed on October 30, 2022. The incident killed 135 people, including several women and children, and injured 56 others.
In connection with the tragedy, ten individuals, including Oreva Group CMD Jaysukh Patel, two managers, sub-contractors, security guards, and ticket booking clerks, have been arrested and charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The High Court's directives underscore the need for accountability and proper compensation for the victims and their families, while also ensuring that such public assets are managed with the care and responsibility they deserve.
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