Bridge shouldn't have been opened: Morbi civic body tells Gujarat HC

Morbi: Nearly a fortnight after the fatal bridge collapse in Gujarat's Morbi, the civic body for the area told Gujarat high court that the bridge "should not have been opened".

The Morbi Municipal Corporation submitted an affidavit to the High Court giving details of the bridge collapse that killed over 13 people on October 30, according to a report in NDTV.

The affidavit was filed after the high court criticised the civic body for the delay, as well as warning to impose a cost of Rs 1 lakh unless the civic body failed to file the affidavit that evening.

The 150-year-old bridge over the Machchhu River reopened on October 26 for Gujarati New Year without a fitness certificate from the civic authorities after having been shut down for seven months for repairs.

The high court on Tuesday sought details of how the contract for maintaining the bridge was given to Oreva Group without having placed a tender.

The court also asked on what basis the bridge was operated after 2017 by the company without having to renew the contract signed in 2008.

Meanwhile, the police FIR mentioned a "seriously irresponsible and careless gesture" to open the bridge when the company was bound by the contract to shut the bridge for at least 12 months for repairs.

Only the nine staff members of the company have been arrested so far, while top management that signed the Rs 7 crore contract still faces no action.

When the bridge collapsed there were nearly 500people on it and it could carry only 125 people.