Bhopal overbridge collapse: Officials had turned blind eye to complaints

The portion of a bridge that collapsed late on Monday night in Bhopal causing the death of a couple was reportedly repaired by the PWD last year.

The portion of a bridge that collapsed late on Monday night in Bhopal causing the death of a couple was reportedly repaired by the PWD last year.

A couple had died when a portion of the overbridge collapsed and fell on their shanty. (HT file photo/Praveen Bajpai)

HT in a report last year had highlighted the dilapidated condition of the bridge, but PWD officials refused to take notice of the matter.

PWD minister Sartaj Singh blamed the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the accident, while after its preliminary inquiry the BMC found that the portion had collapsed due to poor maintenance by the PWD.

Social activist Abdul Jabbar, who had been writing about the dilapidated condition of the bridge for the past one year, said, “I have left no stone unturned to inform authorities about the danger, but no one paid any attention to it.”

In past three years, 15 people have lost their lives in different accidents involving collapses of structures, but no action was taken against responsible officers.

Bhopal collector Nishant Warwade said, “Inquiries have been conducted after mishaps. If some officer or employee has been found guilty and has not punished yet, we will take action against him.”

The Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) has sought reports from the authorities concerned about the circumstances leading to the collapse of a portion of the overbridge.

The MPHRC took cognisance of the fact that there was lack of maintenance of the bridge, despite complaints made to officials. Hence, it has sought explanation from the Public Works Department (PWD), apart from the BMC.

The chief engineer, PWD and the BMC commissioner have been directed to send their reports in this regard. Apart from these two, the district collector and the superintendent of police (SP) have also been asked to submit their reports.

Deadly collapses

15 people have lost their lives in 11 accidents in last 3 years involving collapse of various structures in Bhopal, but authorities have failed to fix accountability in almost all cases

August 17, 2015: A building collapsed at Vinoba Colony, killing a 70-year-old woman

June 22: A boundary wall of the MP Secondary Education Board office collapsed, killing a girl

July 21, 2014: A man and his wife were killed when a supporting wall on the BRTS corridor at Lal Ghati collapsed on two houses

Aug 24, 2013: A BMC employee died when a part of a residential structure collapsed on him in Talaiya area

May 4: Nearly 40-metre-long boundary wall of the board office employees colony collapsed

Dec 1, 2012: A wall collapsed in Barkehdi area. No casualties or injuries reported

Nov 19: Seven persons were killed and 35 others injured when an overhead water tank collapsed in Sai Baba Nagar slum area

August 7: MANIT boundary wall collapsed and fell on the Durga Nagar shanties, killing three people

August 6: State tribal museum wall collapsed after heavy showers

July 8: Pari Park wall collapsed on a car