Those arrested, from the company Oreva, have to answer for the 141 dead after reopening the structure in advance and without permission
The investigation into the tragedy that killed 141 people on Sunday when a suspension bridge collapsed in the state of Gujarat suggests it was all due to negligence. The Oreva company, which is responsible for the restoration of the structure, is facing several charges for violating safety regulations and hastening its reopening without proper permits. For this reason, nine employees of the company were arrested yesterday, who now have to answer to justice for the disaster.
According to the NDTV television network, Oreva is said to have entrusted the technical aspects of the bridge renovation to a smaller company with an unknown track record, Devprakash Solutions. It is added that, as indicated by the agents, initial reports show that the winning firm reopened the bridge earlier than expected and without the relevant certificate from the authorities.
The contract stated that the 233-metre structure, built under the British Mandate, was to be closed for a minimum of eight months or a year to carry out the necessary maintenance work. However, barely seven months had passed as the bridge reopened less than a week ago, on October 26, and services with Oreva were signed last March.
As part of a three-day trip to Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the town of Morbi on Monday, where the tragedy was caused on Sunday when the bridge collapsed during a religious festival that gathered 500 people. The latest balance offered by the government brings the number of deaths to 141, 47 of whom are minors.
Videos posted to social media showed people hanging from the remains of the structure in the dark, and others trying to swim to shore to get to safety. “The cables were cut and the bridge collapsed in a second. People fell into the river, one on the other,” a witness identified as Supran told local media.
Modi has promised that “he will leave no stone unturned” when it comes to finding all those responsible. At the same time, it has announced financial support to the survivors, the injured and the victims’ relatives.
Source: La Verdad
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