The Gujarat High Court was told on Monday that Oreva Group has deposited 50 per cent of the interim compensation amount for the victims of the Morbi cable bridge collapse.
The company asked Chief Justice A.J. Desai and Justice Biren Vaishnav that the first installment (50 per cent of the total amount) was deposited on March 14 and the rest would be paid on or before April 11.
Explain that the Orewa Group (Ajanta Manufacturing Pvt Ltd) was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the British carpet bridge over the Machhu river in Morbi, which collapsed on October 30, 2022. 135 people were killed in the accident while 56 others were seriously injured.
The company had earlier offered Rs 5 lakh to the families of those who died in the accident and Rs 1 lakh to those injured. However, on February 22, the Gujarat High Court cited a Supreme Court order, rejecting the company’s interim proposal, and directed that the group pay Rs 10 lakh to the family of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh to those injured in the accident. .
The High Court had taken suo motu cognizance of a PIL regarding the accident and is now hearing the matter.
On Monday, the High Court took on record the affidavit of Oreva Group. The High Court granted time to the company to deposit the balance amount as the group sought more time from the court to pay the remaining amount.
The next hearing of the case will now be on April 18.
The High Court also informed that the Oreva Group has deposited half of the total payable amount which will be directly deposited into the bank account of the victim’s family, and an FD account will be opened for the remaining amount.
The High Court said that the FD account would be opened in a nationalized bank and invested in a cumulative fixed deposit (FD). Its duration will also be for five years.
