Corroded wires, welded suspenders in the back of Morbi bridge tragedy: SIT in initial probe file

Via PTI

MORBI: Gujarat government-appointed Particular Investigation Staff (SIT) has present in its initial probe that corrosion on just about part of the wires on a cable and welding of previous suspenders with new ones had been one of the primary faults that ended in the cave in of the suspension bridge in Morbi closing yr wherein 135 other folks had been killed.

Those findings are a part of the ‘Initial Document on Morbi Bridge Incident’ submitted via the five-member SIT in December 2022.

The file was once not too long ago shared with the Morbi Municipality via the state City Building Division.

Ajanta Production Restricted (Oreva Staff) was once accountable for the operation and upkeep of the British-era suspension bridge at the Machchu river that collapsed on October 30 closing yr.

The SIT had discovered a number of lapses in maintenance, repairs and operation of the bridge.

IAS officer Rajkumar Beniwal, IPS officer Subhash Trivedi, a secretary and a prime engineer from the state Roads and Construction Division and a professor of structural engineering had been contributors of the SIT.

The SIT famous that of the 2 major cables of the bridge, constructed via the erstwhile rulers in 1887 over river Machchhu, one cable was once having problems with corrosion and just about part of its wires “could also be already damaged” even prior to the cable snapped on October 30 night time.

In keeping with the SIT, the principle cable at the upstream aspect of the river snapped, resulting in the tragedy.

Each and every cable was once shaped via seven strands, every comprising seven metal wires.

A complete of 49 wires had been clubbed in combination in seven strands to shape this cable, the SIT file stated.

“It was once noticed that out of the 49 wires (of that cable), 22 had been corroded, which signifies that the ones wires will have already damaged prior to the incident. The remainder 27 wires not too long ago broke,” the SIT stated in its file.

The SIT additionally discovered that throughout the renovation paintings, “previous suspenders (metal rods which attach the cable with the platform deck) had been welded with the brand new suspenders. Therefore the behaviour of suspenders modified. In these kinds of bridges, unmarried rod suspenders will have to be used to endure the burden”.

Significantly, the Morbi Municipality, with out the approval of the overall board, had awarded the contract to deal with and function the bridge to Oreva Staff (Ajanta Production Restricted), which closed the bridge in March 2022 for renovation and opened it on October 26 with none prior approval or inspection.

In keeping with the SIT, there have been just about 300 individuals at the bridge on the time of the cave in, which was once “way more” than the load-bearing capability of the bridge.

It, on the other hand, stated the real capability of the bridge will probably be showed via laboratory experiences.

The probe file additionally identified that changing person wood planks with an aluminium deck additionally performed a task within the cave in.

“Strolling construction was once made up of inflexible aluminium panels as a substitute of versatile wood planks.

If there have been person wood planks (that have been there prior to renovation), the collection of casualties will have been decrease.

Additionally, no load take a look at or construction take a look at was once carried out prior to opening the bridge,” it added.

The aluminium honeycomb panels had been mounted with none hole in between, which makes the deck much less versatile to deform in its personal aircraft, stated the SIT, including that the usage of aluminium will have larger the whole weight of the bridge too.

Morbi police have already arrested ten accused, together with Oreva Staff’s MD Jaysukh Patel, beneath IPC sections 304 (culpable murder now not amounting to homicide), 308 (try to devote culpable murder), 336 (act which endangers human existence), 337 (inflicting harm to somebody via doing any rash or negligent act) and beneath 338 (inflicting grievous harm via doing rash or negligent act).

MORBI: Gujarat government-appointed Particular Investigation Staff (SIT) has present in its initial probe that corrosion on just about part of the wires on a cable and welding of previous suspenders with new ones had been one of the primary faults that ended in the cave in of the suspension bridge in Morbi closing yr wherein 135 other folks had been killed.

Those findings are a part of the ‘Initial Document on Morbi Bridge Incident’ submitted via the five-member SIT in December 2022.

The file was once not too long ago shared with the Morbi Municipality via the state City Building Division.

Ajanta Production Restricted (Oreva Staff) was once accountable for the operation and upkeep of the British-era suspension bridge at the Machchu river that collapsed on October 30 closing yr.

The SIT had discovered a number of lapses in maintenance, repairs and operation of the bridge.

IAS officer Rajkumar Beniwal, IPS officer Subhash Trivedi, a secretary and a prime engineer from the state Roads and Construction Division and a professor of structural engineering had been contributors of the SIT.

The SIT famous that of the 2 major cables of the bridge, constructed via the erstwhile rulers in 1887 over river Machchhu, one cable was once having problems with corrosion and just about part of its wires “could also be already damaged” even prior to the cable snapped on October 30 night time.

In keeping with the SIT, the principle cable at the upstream aspect of the river snapped, resulting in the tragedy.

Each and every cable was once shaped via seven strands, every comprising seven metal wires.

A complete of 49 wires had been clubbed in combination in seven strands to shape this cable, the SIT file stated.

“It was once noticed that out of the 49 wires (of that cable), 22 had been corroded, which signifies that the ones wires will have already damaged prior to the incident. The remainder 27 wires not too long ago broke,” the SIT stated in its file.

The SIT additionally discovered that throughout the renovation paintings, “previous suspenders (metal rods which attach the cable with the platform deck) had been welded with the brand new suspenders. Therefore the behaviour of suspenders modified. In these kinds of bridges, unmarried rod suspenders will have to be used to endure the burden”.

Significantly, the Morbi Municipality, with out the approval of the overall board, had awarded the contract to deal with and function the bridge to Oreva Staff (Ajanta Production Restricted), which closed the bridge in March 2022 for renovation and opened it on October 26 with none prior approval or inspection.

In keeping with the SIT, there have been just about 300 individuals at the bridge on the time of the cave in, which was once “way more” than the load-bearing capability of the bridge.

It, on the other hand, stated the real capability of the bridge will probably be showed via laboratory experiences.

The probe file additionally identified that changing person wood planks with an aluminium deck additionally performed a task within the cave in.

“Strolling construction was once made up of inflexible aluminium panels as a substitute of versatile wood planks.

If there have been person wood planks (that have been there prior to renovation), the collection of casualties will have been decrease.

Additionally, no load take a look at or construction take a look at was once carried out prior to opening the bridge,” it added.

The aluminium honeycomb panels had been mounted with none hole in between, which makes the deck much less versatile to deform in its personal aircraft, stated the SIT, including that the usage of aluminium will have larger the whole weight of the bridge too.

Morbi police have already arrested ten accused, together with Oreva Staff’s MD Jaysukh Patel, beneath IPC sections 304 (culpable murder now not amounting to homicide), 308 (try to devote culpable murder), 336 (act which endangers human existence), 337 (inflicting harm to somebody via doing any rash or negligent act) and beneath 338 (inflicting grievous harm via doing rash or negligent act).