Morbi collapse: Gujarat govt increases ex gratia payment

Following Gujarat high court's suggestion, the state government has increased the compensation amount for victims of the Morbi suspension bridge tragedy.

On October 30, a colonial-era bridge on the Machchu river had collapsed, killing 135 persons.

The government informed the court on Monday that, on December 10, it took a decision to increase the ex gratia payment to the kin of the deceased by Rs 4 lakh, making it a total of Rs 10 lakh.

Of this, Rs 8 lakh will be given from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund and Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

To the 56 persons who sustained injuries, the government will pay Rs 2 lakh more to each with more than 40% disability, and Rs 1 lakh each to those with less than 40% disability.

The advocate general told the court that the amount would be disbursed within a day or two.

Besides, the high court commented that the state government did not take action against the Morbi municipality under Section 263 of the Municipalities Act and its chief officer as was assured to the court on November 24.

During the hearing, the advocate general stated that dissolution of the municipality is being contemplated, but the affidavit stated that the decision would be taken after the perusal of the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) report.

Meanwhile, the state government submitted SIT's preliminary report in a sealed cover to the high court.

The bench of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh Shastri took note of the recommendations made by the SIT which emphasized on the need to maintain a register for public structures, and periodic audit of these structures.

The SIT also suggested that upkeep of such facilities should be designated to competent personnel.

The storage of rescue equipment in case of exigencies was also recommended.

The SIT report revealed that the main cable was formed by seven cords, each comprising seven wires.

Out of the 49 wires, 22 were already corroded and had broken much before the bridge collapsed.

No load test was conducted on the structure before the bridge was thrown open to the public on October 26.

The movement of people was also not regulated on the bridge. Moreover, the SIT stated that Ajanta Manufacturing Co Ltd outsourced the repair work to a non-competent agency.