‘Pay Rs 10 Lakh to Families of Deceased in 4 Weeks’: Gujarat HC to Morbi Bridge Repairs Company | India News

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday directed clock manufacturing agency Oreva Group, the corporate that maintained the Morbi suspension bridge which collapsed killing 135 folks in October final yr, to pay Rs 10 lakh as “interim” compensation to the kin of every deceased and Rs 2 lakh to every injured inside 4 weeks. A division bench of Chief Justice Sonia Gokani and Justice Sandeep Bhatt gave this path to the corporate. The British-era suspension bridge on the Machchhu river in Morbi city collapsed on October 30 final yr, killing 135 individuals and injuring 56 others.

‘Rs 10 lakh for kin of deceased, Rs 2 lakh to injured individuals’

The court docket ordered the corporate that the kin of every deceased and each injured individual be paid interim compensation of Rs 10 lakh and Rs 2 lakh, respectively, inside 4 weeks.

On Tuesday, throughout a listening to of a suo motu (by itself) PIL admitted final yr following the tragedy, Ajanta Manufacturing Ltd (Oreva Group) had supplied to pay Rs 5 lakh compensation to the kin of those that died and Rs 1 lakh to the injured individuals.

In its interim order, the court docket stated the central and the state governments have collectively supplied Rs 10 lakh compensation to the kin of every sufferer to this point. “The company had offered to give Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of those who lost their lives and Rs 1 lakh to those injured. However, this is not enough. The company has to pay Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of the victims and Rs 2 lakhs to those injured,” Justice Gokani stated.

Morbi bridge collapse

Advocate Okay R Koshti, who represented the victims, had stated that a number of households have misplaced their bread-winning members, and plenty of youngsters and girls have been left to fend for themselves. The court docket additionally famous in its order that the corporate has supplied to take accountability of seven youngsters who have been orphaned in the tragedy. “They (company) will pay for education and hold their hand till they find footing in the society,” the court docket stated.

The bench had earlier made it clear that Oreva’s provide of compensation “will not absolve it of any liability”.

Overa Group’s MD Jaysukh Patel already arrested by Morbi police

Oreva Group, led by its MD Jaysukh Patel, was liable for the operation and upkeep of the bridge. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) shaped by the state authorities has identified a number of lapses on the half of the agency.

Also Read: Morbi Bridge Collapsed due to Corroded Wires and Welded Suspenders, Says SIT Probe Report

Morbi police have already arrested 10 accused, together with Oreva Group’s MD Jaysukh Patel, below Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 304 (culpable murder not amounting to homicide), 308 (try to commit culpable murder), 336 (act which endangers human life), 337 (inflicting harm to any individual by doing any rash or negligent act) and below 338 (inflicting grievous harm by doing rash or negligent act).