MORBI, India – The Footbridge Disaster
On Monday (Oct 31) the police in Tangam eating reportedly seized nine folks that had a hand in the tragic footbridge collapse that took the lives of at least 134 people – children and adults alike flung 10 m (33 ft) into the water.
What Went Down
- Col‑legial cable bridge over the Machchhu River, dating back to 1877.
- CCTV caught a gaggle of teens snapping pics while the whole crew tried to “shake” the bridge – a wild idea that got the result they didn’t want.
- Cable gave way, pulling the crowd into the river. The slide was like a splash‑down in Russian Roulette.
People Who Got Pulled In
- Ashwin Mehra: the stroke‑injured survivor who screamed, “We were stuck on the railings and … the cable snapped!”
- Other folks tried to latch onto the metal rail and nets to claw out of the water.
- Some squad of 15‑20 young men, 20‑25 years old, rigged the bridge for a circus‑style high‑wire act, and they paid the price the hard way.
Police Arrests – All Hands on Deck
Police have taken into custody nine people: ticket clerks, contractors, security guards, and managers from the team that allowed the bridge’s over‑crowding. The arrests cover the crew that failed to control the crowd before the disaster.
Three of the sentencing suspects were “touch‑and‑sell” hit‑men for a repair job, according to Ashok Kumar Yadav, labeling it a “circuit‑breaker” fail. Yadav says more arrests could follow.
Political Toll
- Gurdeep Singh Sappal (Congress) blasted the incident as a tragedy in “waiting.”
- Opposition gears up for a round‑the‑clock argument about repeated shade‑danger water‑issues: bridges, roads, dams.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Morbi’s “soul‑shivering” hot‑spot.
Responsible Company: Oreva
- Oreva, a clock and electrical item maker, was in charge of the bridge repairs.
- They allegedly re‑opened it last week instantly, no “fit‑for‑use” certificate was handed, and no officials were alerted.
- In the Indian Express quote, Oreva’s spokesperson said, “We are waiting for more info. The bridge collapsed because a wild crowd tried to sway it back‑and‑forth.”
- Oreva remains silent on phone calls and text messages from Reuters.
<img alt="" data-caption="A map depicting the site of the bridge collapse over the Machhu River in the western Indian state of Gujarat.
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‘Hour of grief’
Tragic Bridge Collapse: The Shocking Story Behind the Diwali Celebration
When a group of around
400 eager festival-goers stepped onto a bridge for a joint Diwali‑and‑Chhath Puja celebration, they expected a sunny, safe experience. Instead, the bridge gave up on them, sending 134 people downstream and crushing the joyous spirit into a pool of grief.
Who Was Affected?
- Children under 14: roughly 35 young hearts lost.
- Rescue effort: about 170 survivors made it to safety by morning, but many still stuck below.
- Witnesses: Raju, one brave yet humble observer, told us, “whenever the bridge slid, people slipped into the river; I couldn’t sleep at all—stepping into every child’s doorway to reach the hospital.”
The Painful Report
Government officials released a grim update: the death count climbed to 134. Their site notes described rain‑muddied waters stalling the rescue, hinting that some souls might still be entrapped beneath the wreckage.
Accountability Back‑Stairs
– Oreva, a Gujarat municipality contractor that had maintained the bridge for 15 years, denies involvement. Chief officer Sandeepsinh Zala claims Oreva “never told us they were reopening the road— we never issued a clearance‑card.”
– Once the bridge was controlled by the municipality, only 20 people were allowed at any one time. After Oreva took over, crowds swelled: 41 long‑lines of ticket buyers passed the lock. Local legislator Jayrajsinh Jadeja blamed Oreva for lifting the gate restrictions and describes the over‑crowding as a “recipe for disaster.”
From the Former Chief Minister
Former Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, acting in a show‑of‑solidarity bracelet, reached out, saying: “The government, in this moment of sorrow, is standing in every possible arm to support the bereaved families.” His words paint a picture of unity up to the last mile.
The Bridge
It was only a 1.25‑metre‑wide, 233‑metre‑long stretch that linked the historic Darbargadh Palace heritage hotel to the nearby town. Ironically, it tried to hold 400 souls, today a fact that turned into a tragedy.
For all those caught up in this dark spill, the only takeaway is that curiosity should always be paired with caution. Let’s remember that for every step we take, safety should be the first gatekeeper.
