A Bridge Too Far

[abbey1227]

Reuters

October 31, 20229:33 AM CDTLast Updated 8 hours ago

Police arrest nine over Indian bridge collapse, toll reaches 134
By Sumit Khanna


Pedestrian bridge was built in 1877
Some 400 people were on or around bridge when it collapsed
Bridge reopened last week after repairs
Police detain nine people after launching investigation

MORBI, India, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Indian police arrested nine people on Monday, including ticketing clerks and contractors, as they investigate the collapse of a foot bridge in which at least 134 people, including many children, were killed.

CCTV footage from just before the collapse showed a group of young men taking photos while others tried to rock the suspension bridge in Morbi from side to side, before they tumbled into the river below as the cables gave way.

The colonial-era bridge over the Machchhu River was packed with sightseers enjoying holiday festivities when it ruptured on Sunday evening, sending people plunging about 10 metres (33 feet) into the water.

Ashwin Mehra, who was undergoing treatment after sustaining leg and back injuries, said he and six others had reached the shore by holding onto the bridge's metal railings and netting.

"There were about 15-20 boys aged between 20-25 years who were shaking the bridge," he told Reuters TV partner ANI. "...We heard some sounds three times, and the sixth time the cable (of the bridge) suddenly snapped."

A senior police official said nine people had been arrested, including managerial staff, ticketing clerks and three security guards, for failing to regulate crowds before the bridge crumpled.

Two people awarded a contact to repair the structure, originally built in 1877, were among those arrested, Ashok Kumar Yadav said. He said there were likely to be more arrests.

Shock and grief at the tragedy was mixed with anger from some of the loved ones of those killed and members of the opposition in the western state of Gujarat, where elections are due by early next year.

"Not just extremely sad on bridge collapse in Morbi but also very angry. Because it was a tragedy in waiting," Gurdeep Singh Sappal, a member of the Congress party, wrote on Twitter.

"For some time now, bridge collapse, roads caving-in, dams breaching are happening quite often."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hails from the state where the disaster occurred, is due to visit the small industrial town on Tuesday, a lawmaker said.

Local officials told Reuters that Oreva, a company which makes clocks and electrical items that was in charge of the bridge, had not informed the authorities that it would be reopened last week after repairs, adding that no certificate that it was fit for public use had been issued.

An Oreva spokesperson did not answer calls and text messages from Reuters.

The Indian Express newspaper quoted an Oreva spokesperson as saying: "While we are waiting for more information, prima facie, the bridge collapsed as too many people in the mid-section of the bridge were trying to sway it from one way to the other."
Rescuers search for survivors after a suspension bridge collapsed in Morbi town

'HOUR OF GRIEF'

Some 400 people had bought tickets to get onto the bridge to celebrate the Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals.

About 35 victims were under 14, according to a list of the deceased seen by Reuters. About 170 people had been rescued by the morning.

"People were hanging from the bridge after the accident, but they slipped and fell into the river when it collapsed," said Raju, an witness who gave only one name. "I could not sleep the entire night as I had helped in the rescue operation. I brought a lot of children to the hospital."

Narendrasinh Jadeja, whose friend lost seven members of his family, including four children, said: "I cannot express how angry and helpless I am feeling."

Senior government official N.K. Muchhar said the death toll had gone up to 134. Another official said at the site that the river's muddy waters were hampering rescue work and that there might be people trapped under the remains of the bridge.

Oreva, a Gujarat-based company, had been in charge of maintaining the bridge for 15 years, said Sandeepsinh Zala, the chief officer of Morbi municipality.

"They did not give us any information that they were reopening the bridge," Zala said. "We have not issued any fitness certificate to them."

Jayrajsinh Jadeja, a local lawmaker from Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, blamed Oreva for selling tickets without restrictions and said overcrowding led to the bridge collapse.

The bridge was previously maintained by the local municipality, which limited the number of people on the bridge at one time to 20, he said.

Modi, the former chief minister of Gujarat, expressed his condolences to the victims' families.

"In this hour of grief, the government is with the bereaved families in every manner," he said at an event in Gujarat.

The bridge is 1.25 metres (4 feet) wide and spans 233 metres (255 yards) and connected the Darbargadh Palace heritage hotel and the town.

www.reuters.com/world/india/death-toll-bridge-collapse-india-rises-132-local-official-2022-10-31/?fbclid=IwAR2j5S2kDOFvc8_tskq8mpMeKboSwtian_vSUtTKG2YYlPGQnkmy_iR1MCU

[Prometheus]

Don't mind me. I'm just waiting to see which way Abbey goes with this one... aside from the racist way. THAT'S a given.

[merh]

Nov 1, 2022 1:26:08 GMT Prometheus said:

Don't mind me. I'm just waiting to see which way Abbey goes with this one... aside from the racist way. THAT'S a given.

Government repair untrustworthy.
They just paid for repairs that failed a week after finished.

He hates government so obviously someone else should have repaired the bridge 

[abbey1227]

Nov 1, 2022 5:46:09 GMT merh said:

Government repair untrustworthy.
They just paid for repairs that failed a week after finished.

He hates government so obviously someone else should have repaired the bridge 

It doesn't matter who did the repairs if the Load Recommendations were ignored

There was a story awhile back about a football team in an elevator and a young person dying.........same sorta situation.  

[merh]

Nov 1, 2022 7:22:06 GMT abbey1227 said:

Nov 1, 2022 5:46:09 GMT merh said:

Government repair untrustworthy.
They just paid for repairs that failed a week after finished.

He hates government so obviously someone else should have repaired the bridge 

It doesn't matter who did the repairs if the Load Recommendations were ignored

There was a story awhile back about a football team in an elevator and a young person dying.........same sorta situation.  

But it sounds like it wasn't the government’s fault..
 
The clock company fixed the bridge but it wasn't inspected.

Sounds like they had a big celebration planned & wanted to have the bridge open for it. The bridge originally had a limit of 20, but they sold over 400 tickets?

[abbey1227]

Nov 3, 2022 6:34:57 GMT merh said:

Nov 1, 2022 7:22:06 GMT abbey1227 said:

It doesn't matter who did the repairs if the Load Recommendations were ignored

There was a story awhile back about a football team in an elevator and a young person dying.........same sorta situation.  

But it sounds like it wasn't the government’s fault..
 
The clock company fixed the bridge but it wasn't inspected.

Sounds like they had a big celebration planned & wanted to have the bridge open for it. The bridge originally had a limit of 20, but they sold over 400 tickets?

I saw nowhere in there where the Limit was increased.

Just as an elevator routinely has a Weight Limit posted right there on the wall for all to see.

These people used to only allow 20, but they figured since it was recently fixed........200 or more should be fine?

remember this one?

[Prometheus]

[merh]

Nov 3, 2022 12:16:06 GMT abbey1227 said:

Nov 3, 2022 6:34:57 GMT merh said:

But it sounds like it wasn't the government’s fault..
 
The clock company fixed the bridge but it wasn't inspected.

Sounds like they had a big celebration planned & wanted to have the bridge open for it. The bridge originally had a limit of 20, but they sold over 400 tickets?

I saw nowhere in there where the Limit was increased.

Just as an elevator routinely has a Weight Limit posted right there on the wall for all to see.

These people used to only allow 20, but they figured since it was recently fixed........200 or more should be fine?

remember this one?

No, I don't know that clip offhand.

Local officials told Reuters that Oreva, a company which makes clocks and electrical items that was in charge of the bridge, had not informed the authorities that it would be reopened last week after repairs, adding that no certificate that it was fit for public use had been issued.

So they didn't get it inspected.
Did they think without the inspector limiting thr numbers they could sell all the tickets they wanted?

Oreva, a Gujarat-based company, had been in charge of maintaining the bridge for 15 years, said Sandeepsinh Zala, the chief officer of Morbi municipality.

"They did not give us any information that they were reopening the bridge," Zala said. "We have not issued any fitness certificate to them."

Jayrajsinh Jadeja, a local lawmaker from Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, blamed Oreva for selling tickets without restrictions and said overcrowding led to the bridge collapse.

The bridge was previously maintained by the local municipality, which limited the number of people on the bridge at one time to 20, he said.

So the city limited it to 20 people.

However it was sold/privatized & the company paid to fix the bridge, but didn't bother telling the inspectors (wanted to get the celebration over first?)

[Prometheus]

Nov 3, 2022 19:12:56 GMT merh said:

Nov 3, 2022 12:16:06 GMT abbey1227 said:

I saw nowhere in there where the Limit was increased.

Just as an elevator routinely has a Weight Limit posted right there on the wall for all to see.

These people used to only allow 20, but they figured since it was recently fixed........200 or more should be fine?

remember this one?

No, I don't know that clip offhand.

Local officials told Reuters that Oreva, a company which makes clocks and electrical items that was in charge of the bridge, had not informed the authorities that it would be reopened last week after repairs, adding that no certificate that it was fit for public use had been issued.

So they didn't get it inspected.
Did they think without the inspector limiting thr numbers they could sell all the tickets they wanted?

Oreva, a Gujarat-based company, had been in charge of maintaining the bridge for 15 years, said Sandeepsinh Zala, the chief officer of Morbi municipality.

"They did not give us any information that they were reopening the bridge," Zala said. "We have not issued any fitness certificate to them."

Jayrajsinh Jadeja, a local lawmaker from Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, blamed Oreva for selling tickets without restrictions and said overcrowding led to the bridge collapse.

The bridge was previously maintained by the local municipality, which limited the number of people on the bridge at one time to 20, he said.

So the city limited it to 20 people.

However it was sold/privatized & the company paid to fix the bridge, but didn't bother telling the inspectors (wanted to get the celebration over first?)

Privatization of public access-ways wasn't the best solution?

The devil you say!

[permutojoe]

How long before this starts happening in the US with the GOP giving money away to the billionaires instead of even putting it toward needed infrastructure projects?

[merh]

Nov 5, 2022 18:23:16 GMT permutojoe said:

How long before this starts happening in the US with the GOP giving money away to the billionaires instead of even putting it toward needed infrastructure projects?

ABBEY has voiced support for it.

[Prometheus]

Nov 8, 2022 19:19:11 GMT merh said:

Nov 5, 2022 18:23:16 GMT permutojoe said:

How long before this starts happening in the US with the GOP giving money away to the billionaires instead of even putting it toward needed infrastructure projects?

ABBEY has voiced support for it.

Yup.

Abs is convinced that privatization is a panacea. He even advocates selling the entire island of Puerto Rico to private businesses while ignoring that the PR of today is due to just that.

Abbey claims to love competition but still thinks that the bigger a company is, is proof that it is better and should be allowed to operate without hindrance.

[abbey1227]

Nov 5, 2022 18:23:16 GMT permutojoe said:

How long before this starts happening in the US with the GOP giving money away to the billionaires instead of even putting it toward needed infrastructure projects?

Giant Govt Slush Fund

instead every single and specific tax collected being used towards ONLY what it was intended/passed for.

[Prometheus]

Nov 9, 2022 1:53:44 GMT abbey1227 said:

Nov 5, 2022 18:23:16 GMT permutojoe said:

How long before this starts happening in the US with the GOP giving money away to the billionaires instead of even putting it toward needed infrastructure projects?

Giant Govt Slush Fund

instead every single and specific tax collected being used towards ONLY what it was intended/passed for.

So you want a "military tax" a "road tax" an "education tax" etc.?

Yeah. That wouldn't increase the size of government at all.

Fucking moron

[permutojoe]

Nov 9, 2022 1:53:44 GMT abbey1227 said:

Nov 5, 2022 18:23:16 GMT permutojoe said:

How long before this starts happening in the US with the GOP giving money away to the billionaires instead of even putting it toward needed infrastructure projects?

Giant Govt Slush Fund

instead every single and specific tax collected being used towards ONLY what it was intended/passed for.

You been hittin' the crack pipe tonight.  Sorry about the Packers and Rodgers is probably done for good.  But don't take it out on the politics board.  

[abbey1227]

Nov 9, 2022 3:32:24 GMT permutojoe said:

Nov 9, 2022 1:53:44 GMT abbey1227 said:

Giant Govt Slush Fund

instead every single and specific tax collected being used towards ONLY what it was intended/passed for.

You been hittin' the crack pipe tonight.  Sorry about the Packers and Rodgers is probably done for good.  But don't take it out on the politics board.  

OH! NOW you've hit a sore spot!!

A friend of mine recently talked me into sitting with him to watch the Packers after I've been ignoring them for a few years.........and THAT's the crap I get to see?

A union card holder, one of the highest paid QBs in the league.......and his dumb ass can't figure out why he doesn't have enough talent around him to compete anymore?

But it's not just him, almost the entire league looks like crap. Unprofessional and spoiled athletes putting on embarrassing displays of their lack of practice at anything but celebratory dancing. Just like in the movie Baseketball.

That giant Govt just expanded the IRS by tens of thousands..........but they can't keep track of Revenues and Spending? My arse

There's no reason computer tech hasn't replaced most of them by now.......just like most of the teachers should have been.

[permutojoe]

Nov 9, 2022 3:41:32 GMT abbey1227 said:

Nov 9, 2022 3:32:24 GMT permutojoe said:

You been hittin' the crack pipe tonight.  Sorry about the Packers and Rodgers is probably done for good.  But don't take it out on the politics board.  

OH! NOW you've hit a sore spot!!

A friend of mine recently talked me into sitting with him to watch the Packers after I've been ignoring them for a few years.........and THAT's the crap I get to see?

A union card holder, one of the highest paid QBs in the league.......and his dumb ass can't figure out why he doesn't have enough talent around him to compete anymore?

But it's not just him, almost the entire league looks like crap. Unprofessional and spoiled athletes putting on embarrassing displays of their lack of practice at anything but celebratory dancing. Just like in the movie Baseketball.

That giant Govt just expanded the IRS by tens of thousands..........but they can't keep track of Revenues and Spending? My arse

There's no reason computer tech hasn't replaced most of them by now.......just like most of the teachers should have been.

You really blame Rodgers for the fact that he doesn't have a single elite WR?  You are one messed up dude, man.  Anyway they can land OBJ when he comes back?  Probably a playoff run in there if so.  

[abbey1227]

Nov 9, 2022 3:50:24 GMT permutojoe said:

You really blame Rodgers for the fact that he doesn't have a single elite WR?  You are one messed up dude, man.  Anyway they can land OBJ when he comes back?  Probably a playoff run in there if so.  

Unlike Govt, EVERY NFL team has a salary/spending cap.

When 1 guy takes up a huge chunk, leaving the other 52 guys to share the rest.......what do you suppose that does?

WHY do you think Tom Brady was able to be so successful in New England? Because he wasn't worried about being the highest paid QB. He preferred winning instead.

But proud Union members that they are, many QBs certainly are willing to slurp up the lion's share of the cap, aren't they?

Getting Davante Adams back, or anyone else for that matter, isn't going to cure the problems they have on the O-Line and their lack of depth elsewhere.

Let's not forget the incredibly high injury rates........because the Players negotiated less practice time

[permutojoe]

Thanks for explaining salary caps.

Brady and the Pats were a very unique situation. Best football coach of all time who knows how to win. Rodgers is more of a phenom talent whereas Brady was more like a Drew Brees who happened to never get hurt and fell in with the right crowd.

Rodgers salary is not an issue. He's not the highest paid QB. In fact I don't think he's top 5. IDK why they felt the need to not bring in another alpha receiver after Adams left. Could be any number of reasons.

And blaming players for injuries? lol. Are you for real? Can we get a troll check here? Anybody?

[abbey1227]

Nov 11, 2022 3:04:21 GMT permutojoe said:

Thanks for explaining salary caps.

Brady and the Pats were a very unique situation. Best football coach of all time who knows how to win. Rodgers is more of a phenom talent whereas Brady was more like a Drew Brees who happened to never get hurt and fell in with the right crowd.

Rodgers salary is not an issue. He's not the highest paid QB. In fact I don't think he's top 5. IDK why they felt the need to not bring in another alpha receiver after Adams left. Could be any number of reasons.

And blaming players for injuries? lol. Are you for real? Can we get a troll check here? Anybody?

Rodgers is a better QB than Favre was in terms of accuracy and smarts. Doesn't matter though cuz they've both repeated the same mistakes.

He may not be Top 5 at the moment, but that's because they keep upping the contracts on every starting QB. $50 Million isn't noteworthy?

Yeah, injuries are their fault when their union negotiated less practice time and contact. Now it's Week 10 and they're dropping like flies because they're not in football shape yet.