Morbi bridge collapse | Generations wiped out in disaster

Many had visited the heritage, suspension bridge, popularly known as the Jhulto pul, to spend the final day of the Deepavali holiday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspects rescue works by helicopter over the cable suspension bridge collapse in Morbi, Gujarat on November 1, 2022. | Photo Credit: Vijay Soneji

The bridge collapse in Morbi town has left several families shattered in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Forty-five children and more than 50 women are among the deceased. Many had visited the heritage, suspension bridge, popularly known as the Jhulto pul, to spend the final day of the Deepavali holiday.

Heart-rending scenes emerged from Jaliya Devani village in Jamnagar district as the bodies of seven members of a family were brought for the last rites on Monday. Among them were five children.  

Hardik Faldu, a chartered accountant from Adityana village of Porbandar, and his wife, Miralben, died when the bridge collapsed on Sunday.  

In Rajkot, Durgaben Raiyani lost her 14-year-old daughter, four sisters, three brothers-in-law, and four others of the family.  “I have no words. What is left to speak now,” an inconsolable Durgaben told mediapersons. 

In Morbi, Jayaben Prabhubhai Gogar, 53, mother of Priyanka Prabhubhai Gogar, 19, mourned with her daughter’s photo along with other relatives at their residence. 

Jayaben saved three children after the bridge collapsed but could not save her own daughter. As people plunged into the river, Jayaben used her saree to save the children but could not save her daughter.

Another family lost six members, including two children, with the youngest being just three.

Mehboobhai  Mira lost his daughter, two sisters, two nieces and a nephew.

In pictures | Morbi bridge collapse

Rescuers search for survivors on October 31, 2022, a day after a suspension bridge collapsed in Morbi town of Gujarat.

The old suspension bridge over the Machchhu river that collapsed in Morbi district on October 30, 2022 was reopened without safety certificate and local civic body’s approval. An FIR has been registered under IPC sections 304, 308.

People gather as rescuers search for survivors on October 31, 2022, a day after a suspension bridge collapsed in Morbi, Gujarat. It has emerged that the bridge was reopened after the repair work done by a private trust and fitness certificate was not submitted to the local civic body while reopening it.

Rescue operation underway on October 31, 2022, a day after the collapse of a suspension bridge over the Machchhu river in Gujarat's Morbi district. This is a British-era bridge which was recently repaired by a private trust.

NDRF personnel conduct a search and rescue operation early on October 31, 2022 after an old suspension bridge over the Machchhu river collapsed in Gujarat's Morbi district.

NDRF personnel assist a victim during a rescue operation on October 31, 2022 after an old suspension bridge over the Machchhu river collapsed in Morbi district.

Family members and relatives near the bodies of victims at Civil Hospital in Morbi district on October 31, 2022.

Armed Forces personnel deployed at the site during a rescue operation after the collapse of a suspension bridge over the Machchhu river in Morbi district on October 31, 2022.

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