NEW DELHI, Apr 18: The Oreva Group informed the Gujarat High Court on Tuesday that it has deposited with the State legal services authority the entire amount of ₹14.62 crore to be paid as interim compensation to victims of the Morbi bridge tragedy, as directed by the HC in February.
As many as 135 people were killed in the collapse of the suspension bridge over Machchu river in Morbi town in Gujarat on October 30, last year, and the Oreva Group, known for manufacturing “Ajanta” brand clocks, was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the British-era structure. And the tragedy occurred only five days after the bridge was re-opened after “repairing” by the company.
The company informed a Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice A.J. Desai and Justice Biren Vaishnav that it has deposited with the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority the entire amount of ₹14.62 crore to be paid as interim relief to the victims. The money was deposited in two instalments of equal amounts, it said.
The court said the amount shall be disbursed as per the February 22 order of the division bench. In the said order, the court had directed member secretary of the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority to ensure the disbursement in coordination with the District Legal Services Authority and government officials concerned after due verification of the victims.
The State Government also informed the court that it has superseded the Morbi municipality as per its April 11 order. The company was directed by the court on February 22, 2023 to pay ₹10 lakh as interim compensation to the kin of each of the 135 deceased, and ₹2 lakh to each of the 56 people injured in the accident. The court had directed the company to double the amount of interim compensation it initially proposed to pay to the families of the deceased and the injured.
Jaysukh Patel, the managing director of the company which is into manufacturing of e-bikes, home appliances and clocks, has been named as the main accused in the case and arrested along with nine others who are currently in judicial custody.
The company also proposed to take care of seven children who were orphaned in the tragedy by looking after their education, medical care, residence and ensuring they get settled in their respective profession after completing their studies.
(Manas Dasgupta)