More than 130 people were killed and the death toll is still rising when a 140-year-old suspension bridge collapsed on Machu river in Morbi on Sunday evening in one of Gujarat’s worst tragedies. The shocking thing is that this cable suspension bridge, which was closed for seven months, was inaugurated on the same day of the year after reconstruction.
Basically, when the bridge was first built in the 19th century, it was hailed as an ‘engineering miracle’. In addition, this bridge became a symbol of the progressive and scientific approach of the rulers of Morbi, according to the website of the District Collectorate.
The nearly 140-year-old suspension bridge was closed to the public in March this year after it fell into disrepair and reconstruction work began. This operation was assigned to Aureva Group. Along with this, the company was also entrusted with the operation and maintenance of the suspension bridge for the next 15 years. After being closed for nearly seven months, the bridge was reopened to the public on October 26, the day of the new year. Public access to the reconstructed bridge is Rs. 17 tickets were also kept.
Sunday was the last holiday of Diwali festivities. So many people reached the suspension bridge. At this time at around 6.30 in the evening, the tragedy of the bridge collapse took place. It is said that around 500 people were on the bridge at the time of the accident. People fell 30 feet into the river when the bridge collapsed. Heartbreaking scenes unfolded as the injured and dead were pulled out of the river. At this time the entire atmosphere was filled with people’s screams and moans.
Morbi-based Oreva Group (Ajanta Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd.) has come into the limelight after this horrific tragedy. While the Aureva Group is known for wall clocks and also manufactures e-bikes, the company was tasked with creating a bridge that would give Morbi a distinct identity using state-of-the-art technology.
Aureva Group was founded by late Odhavji Patel in the year 1989. Currently the company’s business is spread across 45 countries and the company provides employment to 7,000 people including 5,000 women. The company is in business ranging from making wall clocks to water storage for farmers. Odhavji Patel’s Anjata Group also manufactures energy-saving fluorescent bulbs and vitrified tiles.
Odhavji Patel was known as the ‘father of wall clocks’ in India. After his death in October 2022, his son Jaysukh Odhavji became the head of the Oreva Group. Approximately Rs. With a turnover of Rs 800 crore, the group apart from Oreva brand snacks also manufactures home and electrical appliances, calculators and ceramic products at its units in Morbi and Kutch.
In the year 2020, Jaysukh Patel was honored with Nav Nakshatra Samman Business Award by Ahmedabad West MP Kirit Solanki. The company’s headquarters are located near Thalatej Circle on SG Highway in Ahmedabad.
Morbi Municipal Agency chief Sandipsingh Jhala said the Oreva group did not obtain a fitness certificate from the system before re-opening the suspension bridge to the public. This was a government tender. The Orewa Group was required to submit details of the bridge’s reconstruction to the government and get its quality verified before opening the bridge. But the company did not. The government had no information about opening the bridge.
An FIR has been registered regarding the collapse of the suspension bridge over the Machu river, but it does not mention the name of the head of the Oreva Group or the company Jaysukh Patel, which is responsible for managing and maintaining the bridge. Also, the police have not identified any of the accused. In the FIR, a case has been registered only against the agency that repaired and managed the suspension bridge and those whose names emerge during the investigation.
Deputy Superintendent of Police PA Jhala will investigate the case. Police said, this is a careless act. It appears that this act was done intentionally. The accused has committed the offense of culpable homicide under the section of IPC.
In October 2021, Jaysukh Patel paid Rs. He envisioned a water utilization project at a cost of 200 crores and was endorsed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. On October 7, 2021, Amit Shah held a meeting with Jaysukh Patel to discuss the implementation of the project. Patel has 4,900 square meters of small desert of Kutch. km It was proposed to convert the area into a salt water lake. Teman also named this lake Ran Sarovar. Obstacles are believed to have arisen in this project.