- Sunday, March 09, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will on Tuesday (1) visit Morbi in the western state of Gujarat where a century-old pedestrian bridge packed with revellers collapsed on Sunday (30), killing more than 130.
More than 100 were undergoing treatment after sustaining injuries in the accident. Several people fell into the Machchhu river after the cable-suspension bridge gave in.
The chief minister’s office of the state confirmed the news about Modi’s arrival.
Modi is currently in Gujarat, which is also his home state, for a three-day visit. He said in Kevadia that rescue operations were underway and assured that there would be no laxity in rescue efforts.
“The Gujarat government has been carrying out relief and rescue operations since yesterday. Centre too is extending all help to the State Government,” Modi said.
મોરબી ખાતે થયેલ દુર્ઘટનાથી અત્યંત દુ:ખી છું. આ અંગે ગુજરાતના મુખ્યમંત્રી શ્રી @Bhupendrapbjp તથા અન્ય અધિકારીઓ સાથે વાત કરી. રાહત અને બચાવ કામગીરી પુરઝડપે ચાલી રહી છે તથા અસરગ્રસ્તોને તમામ આવશ્યક સહાય પૂરી પાડવામાં આવી રહી છે.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 30, 2022
“The State Government has constituted a committee to investigate this incident. I assure the people of the country that there will be no laxity in rescue and relief operations,” the prime minister added.
He said this while expressing a gathering on the occasion of the 147th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (which falls on November 14), India’s first home minister who was known as ‘iron man’ for his role in unifying the country at the time of Independence, in Ekta Nagar in Kevadia.
“I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. In this hour of grief, the government is with the bereaved families in every manner. The Gujarat Government has been carrying out relief and rescue operations since yesterday. Centre too is extending all help to the State Government,” Modi said.
“I am in Ekta Nagar but my mind is with the victims of Morbi. Rarely in my life, would I have experienced such pain. On one hand, there is a pain-riddled heart and on the other hand, there is the path to duty,” he added.
“The state government has constituted a committee to investigate this incident. I assure the people of the country that there will be no laxity in rescue and relief operations,” Modi said.
He also cancelled his roadshow that was scheduled in Ahmedabad on Monday (31).
Modi has been making frequent visits to Gujarat, which is due to go to polls in a few months. His Bharatiya Janata Party has been in power in the state for more than two decades now.
The Gujarat Police has filed a first information report under IPC sections 304 and 308 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) after the tragedy.
The state government has constituted a five-member committee headed to probe the bridge collapse incident.
“An FIR has been registered against the maintenance and management agencies of the bridge, under Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), and 114 (abettor present when offense is committed) of the India Penal Code,” said Morbi B division police inspector Prakashbhai Dekavadiya.
[With ANI inputs]
