Bar associations decide to not represent accused in Gujarat bridge collapse

Two bar associations in Gujarat have decided they will not represent the suspects arrested in connection with the tragic Morbi bridge collapse. Both the Morbi Bar Association and the Rajkot Bar Association have issued resolutions stating that their lawyers will not represent the nine accused in the Oreva case, according to senior advocate of the Morbi Bar Association AC Prajapati, who spoke to news agency ANI.

After the bridge fell just days after being reopened to the public, the Ahmedabad-based Oreva Group has come under scrutiny. While congestion was a contributing cause, it has since come to light that the repairs were not done properly. The prosecution testified in court on Tuesday that although the bridge’s floor had been restored, the cable had not. Consequently, the cable broke as a result of the floor’s pressure. After the restoration, the floor itself grew heavier. Additionally, Chhath Puja caused a congestion of people.

After nearly eight months of restoration work, the bridge was finally reopened to traffic on October 26 by Oreva Group’s managing director Jaysukh Patel.

Patel revealed that Oreva hired experts and spent 2 crore on the makeover. And the bridge fell away four days later.

Nine individuals, including two managers of the Oreva firm, two subcontractors who had repaired the bridge, security officers, and ticket sales clerks, have been arrested in connection with the incident. While the remainders are being held in judicial custody, the managers and subcontractors have been taken into police custody.

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