Supreme Court to Hear PIL for Judicial Investigation into Morbi Bridge Collapse

GG News Bureau

New Delhi, 1st Nov. The Supreme Court stated on Tuesday that it will hear a petition for the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the Morbi bridge collapse incident in Gujarat on November 14.

According to the most recent reports, the death toll from the collapse of a British-era bridge on the Machchhu river in Morbi, Gujarat, on Sunday has risen to 134.

“You are very quick. What are your prayers,” a bench comprising Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit and Justice Bela M Trivedi said when lawyer Vishal Tiwari mentioned his PIL on the issue for urgent hearing.

“I am seeking a judicial enquiry by a panel headed by a former Supreme Court judge,” the lawyer said.

The bench then stated that the PIL would be heard on November 14.

According to Tiwari’s PIL, the accident that resulted in the bridge collapsing, killing more than 134 people, showed the government’s negligence and utter failure.

From the past decade, various incidents have taken place in our country wherein due to the mismanagement, lapse in duty, negligent maintenance activities, there have been cases of huge public casualties which could have been avoided, the PIL said.

The more than a century-old Machchhu river bridge in Morbi, about 300 kilometers from the state capital Gandhinagar, reopened five days ago after extensive repairs and renovations.

When it collapsed around 6.30 p.m. on Sunday, it was packed with people.

According to a senior police officer, the death toll in the bridge collapse incident has risen to 134.