AHMEDABAD/NEW DELHI: Police in India aim to arrest the boss of a clock-making company that managed a colonial-era footbridge in a small industrial town in Gujarat until it collapsed last year, killing at least 135 people, two senior police officials told Reuters.
The 145-year-old suspension bridge in the town of Morbi was packed with sightseers when its collapsed on Oct. 30, plunging hundreds of people into the Machchhu river below. The victims were largely women and children who died due to drowning.
Nearly three months later, police have issued an arrest warrant for Jaysukh Patel, the managing director of Oreva Group, best known for making clocks and electrical products, said Ashish Bhatia, head of police in Gujarat, the western state which is also Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state.
A look-out circular has also been issued to prevent Patel from leaving the country, Bhatia added. Patel's mobile phone remained switched off on Monday and messages from Reuters did not get delivered to him.
Staff at Oreva Group's offices in Ahmedabad city and Morbi declined to respond to Reuters' telephone queries. The company did not immediately respond to a query over email.
The warrant was issued after Patel did not respond to multiple police summons and could not be found at his residential addresses in Ahmedabad and Morbi, a senior police official said.
"We have strong evidence that points to Patel being responsible for the bridge collapse," said the official, who did not wish to be named as he was not authorised to speak to media.
"The evidence also points out that the cables of the bridge needed repairs; they had not been repaired since the bridge was constructed during colonial times, and this is one of the main reasons for the collapse."
The official said police evidence against Patel includes statements from nine people who were arrested following the bridge collapse, including ticketing clerks accused of letting too many people onto the bridge and contractors that had been in charge of repair work.
Reuters
Tue Jan 24 2023
![India police to arrest boss of clock-making firm over bridge collapse India police to arrest boss of clock-making firm over bridge collapse](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-01/41674529147_GUJARAT.jpg)
People look on as rescuers in boats work at the site of a suspension bridge collapse in Morbi town in the western state of Gujarat, India, October 31, 2022. -ANI/via REUTERS/Filepic
![Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000 Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705134_TBAhLong.jpg)
Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000
Seorang orang suruhan ah long mengaku bersalah atas pertuduhan menyimbah cat merah di rumah keluarga peminjam, Januari lalu.
![Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705177_TBMyREF.jpg)
Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf
Lebih daripada 30 asnaf bersama ahli keluarga mereka telah diraikan di Majlis Graduasi MyREF Hijrahpreneur Skills Program (MyREF HSP) di Auditorium High Impact Research, Universiti Malaya.
![Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723704577_RusdiMohdIsa.jpg)
Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol
Polis telah mengenal pasti seorang pemain bola sepak yang ditahan kerana membawa kerambit ke padang bola, sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol di sebuah pusat hiburan di ibu negara.
![Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723703465_TBperkeso.jpg)
Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan
Bernama dan Perkeso menandatangani MoU bagi memperluas perlindungan sosial kepada pengamal media sambilan (stringers) melalui Skim Keselamatan Sosial Pekerjaan Sendiri (SKSPS).
![RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723701143_TBastro.jpg)
RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif
RADIO 360 merentasi 11 stesen radio Astro yang boleh diakses di aplikasi SYOK termasuk Era, Sinar, Gegar, Hitz, Mix, My dan Raaga.
AWANI Ringkas: Pemain bola bawa kerambit juga suspek baling bom petrol
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
![Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723702959_TBMahkamahSesyen.jpg)
Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China
Sepasang suami isteri dan empat individu didakwa menculik seorang lelaki warga China untuk mendapatkan wang tebusan berbentuk mata wang kripto.
![Bursa gantung jualan singkat SP Setia Bursa gantung jualan singkat SP Setia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61722341186_BursaMalaysia.jpg)
Bursa gantung jualan singkat SP Setia
Bursa Malaysia menggantung jualan singkat SP Setia Bhd bagi baki tempoh hari ini selepas penyusutan harga yang ketara.
![MITI mula siasat duti antilambakan import gulungan rata besi disadur timah MITI mula siasat duti antilambakan import gulungan rata besi disadur timah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723697210_TBMiti.jpg)
MITI mula siasat duti antilambakan import gulungan rata besi disadur timah
MITI menjelaskan tindakan itu diputuskan selepas menerima petisyen daripada pengeluar tempatan, Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Bhd.
!['Nidza Afham pernah cakap mahu jadi terkenal, tapi bukan macam ini' - Kakak 'Nidza Afham pernah cakap mahu jadi terkenal, tapi bukan macam ini' - Kakak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723700126_NidzaAfhammeningg.jpg)
'Nidza Afham pernah cakap mahu jadi terkenal, tapi bukan macam ini' - Kakak
Kakak kepada Allahyarham penyanyi Nidza Afham iaitu Irfahanie memaklumkan adiknya itu pernah berhasrat untuk menjadi penyanyi terkenal.
![Angka kematian di Gujarat akibat jangkitan disyaki virus Chandipura meningkat Angka kematian di Gujarat akibat jangkitan disyaki virus Chandipura meningkat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71722123052_COVID.jpg)
Angka kematian di Gujarat akibat jangkitan disyaki virus Chandipura meningkat
Angka kematian akibat jangkitan disyaki virus Chandipura meningkat kepada 48 orang.
![Doktor terpendek di dunia Doktor terpendek di dunia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/41710568085_tbdoktorterpendek.jpg)
Doktor terpendek di dunia
Tiada siapa sangka seorang lelaki di India dinobatkan doktor terpendek di dunia apabila hanya mempunyai ketinggian tiga kaki atau 91 sentimeter.
![60 maut dalam tragedi jambatan gantung runtuh di India 60 maut dalam tragedi jambatan gantung runtuh di India](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-10/41667147742_bridgedamagedcol.jpg)
60 maut dalam tragedi jambatan gantung runtuh di India
Sekurang-kurangnya 60 orang maut selepas sebuah jambatan runtuh di Gujarat, India Barat.
![Bekas pengerusi Tata Group Cyrus Mistry maut dalam nahas jalan raya Bekas pengerusi Tata Group Cyrus Mistry maut dalam nahas jalan raya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/71662306002_TBCYRUS.jpg)
Bekas pengerusi Tata Group Cyrus Mistry maut dalam nahas jalan raya
Ahli perniagaan Cyrus Mistry yang pernah berkhidmat sebagai pengerusi syarikat gergasi korporat India, Tata Sons meninggal dunia dalam nahas jalan raya pada Ahad.
![Penduduk gempar penemuan bola logam misteri didakwa jatuh dari langit Penduduk gempar penemuan bola logam misteri didakwa jatuh dari langit](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-05/41652833558_Duagambarmenunjukk.jpg)
Penduduk gempar penemuan bola logam misteri didakwa jatuh dari langit
Bola logam hitam besar yang pertama jatuh di kampung Bhalej di daerah Anand, Gujarat jam 4.45 petang pada 12 Mei lalu.
![COVID-19: India wujudkan kem vaksinasi khas untuk OKU COVID-19: India wujudkan kem vaksinasi khas untuk OKU](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-06/41623631362_IndiaVaksinTangguh.jpg)
COVID-19: India wujudkan kem vaksinasi khas untuk OKU
Rata-rata penerima vaksin di kem itu berpendapat ia lebih memudahkan proses vaksinasi mereka.
![Lapan pesakit COVID-19 maut dalam kebakaran di hospital India Lapan pesakit COVID-19 maut dalam kebakaran di hospital India](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-08/41596716078_India.jpg)
Lapan pesakit COVID-19 maut dalam kebakaran di hospital India
Susulan insiden tersebut, 35 pesakit terpaksa dipindahkan ke hospital lain.
![Isteri hidup balik selepas 14 tahun 'mati' Isteri hidup balik selepas 14 tahun 'mati'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-07/61564183124_IsteriBalik.jpg)
Isteri hidup balik selepas 14 tahun 'mati'
Polis India bingung sewaktu menerima laporan seorang lelaki, Prakash Amritbhai Panchal yang mendakwa isterinya hidup semula selepas 14 tahun disangka mati.
![Taufan Vayu: 300,000 penduduk di Gujarat dipindahkan Taufan Vayu: 300,000 penduduk di Gujarat dipindahkan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-06/61560392680_TBCYCLONEVAYU.jpg)
Taufan Vayu: 300,000 penduduk di Gujarat dipindahkan
Taufan Vayu dijangka melanda pesisir pantai Gujarat dengan kelajuan angin 180 kilometer sejam.
![19 pelajar maut kebakaran kolej di India 19 pelajar maut kebakaran kolej di India](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-05/71558748790_KebakarankolejIndia.jpg)
19 pelajar maut kebakaran kolej di India
Mangsa maut akibat kebakaran tersebut selain terjun dari bangunan ketika mahu menyelamatkan diri.