New Delhi, November 23, 2022 (PPI-OT):The contractors who were hired to renovate the Morbi Bridge in the Indian state of Gujarat did not address major issues like rusty cables and loose bolts and only replaced the metal flooring, a preliminary probe by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has found. The report was submitted to a local court in Morbi that is hearing the bail pleas of eight of the nine accused who have been arrested in connection with the tragic collapse last month that resulted in the deaths of 135 people.

Among the problems that the FSL probe identified was the presence of rusty cables, broken anchor pins and loose bolts. The report also pointed out that the new metal flooring increased the weight of the bridge. According to the prosecution, both the repairing contractors were not qualified to carry out such repair and renovation work.

Police have so far arrested nine persons – including four from the Oreva group that was managing the British-era suspension bridge, which collapsed on October 30. Orvea hired Dhrangadhra-based Dev Prakash Solution to renovate the bridge, which collapsed four days after it was thrown open to the public post-renovation.

“The report revealed that the cables on which the entire bridge was hanging were rusted. The anchor pins that hold the cables on the ground were broken while the bolts on the anchor were loose by three inches. The prosecution told the court that it is definitely considered as negligence,” said district government pleader Vijay Jani. The court is likely to issue an order on the bail applications today.

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