OREVA MANAGER SAYS THAT MORBI BRIDGE COLLAPSE IS AN "ACT OF GOD"

An Oreva Group manager who was arrested in connection with the Morbi bridge collapse that claimed 135 lives described the tragedy as an "act of god". ". When the accused manager of the Oreva firm appeared in court over the collapse of the Morbi bridge, he claimed that the fall was caused by a "act of God."

One of the two managers of the Oreva company (who have been arrested) told the court that it is a "act of God," added additional public prosecutor advocate HS Panchal.

Another revelation was the condition of the Morbi bridge's cable wires, which were "rusting away" "and weren't in a state that made them safe for people to ride on.

Advocate HS Panchal said, "In the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report, the Investigating Officer (IO) said that the cable (of the bridge) was rusting away. The Investigating Officer says that only flooring of the bridge was done and the cables were not changed, oiling-greasing also wasn't done." 

The FSL officer added that the cable was old.

HS Panchal declared: Two of the four people taken into police custody are managers of Oreva Co., while the other two worked on the bridge's fabrication. Security personnel and ticket sellers make up the other five people who were taken into custody by the court.

Advocate Panchal continued, in the report, the Investigating Officer (IO) concluded that the tender process did not take place and the contract was allotted directly.

In Morbi, Gujarat, on Sunday, a cable suspension bridge collapsed, plunging the crowd into the Machchu river and killing at least 135 people and injuring over 100 more. Nine persons were taken into custody after the collapse of the Morbi bridge. The court on Wednesday placed five people in judicial custody until November 5 and placed the remaining four in police custody.

Two of the people being held by the police are managers of the Oreva company, which is being investigated. The bridge was recently renovated by Oreva, but they failed to provide a thorough report.