Morbi, India
CNN
 — 

A marigold garland hangs throughout a photograph body with the faces of 12 members of the Bodha household who died when a bridge collapsed beneath them throughout a household outing in Gujarat, japanese India.

“There have been a lot of deaths,” stated grandfather Sundarji Bodha, from his residence within the small city of Morbi that’s mourning 135 individuals who died within the October 30 tragedy.

“I cannot describe the pain and sadness it’s caused,” stated Bodha, who misplaced 5 grandchildren, 4 daughters and three sons-in legislation.

In the times for the reason that tragedy, few solutions have emerged as to why the colonial-era suspension bridge appeared to snap, spilling dozens of individuals into the Machchhu River.

Police investigating the case have instructed the corporate tasked with sustaining the bridge, Oreva, didn’t conduct the suitable repairs or assessments to make sure the bridge was protected for pedestrians.

“They only did electric fittings and painting work,” P. A. Zala, deputy superintendent of Gujarat police, informed CNN on Tuesday. “No fitness or capacity test was done by them.”

Oreva didn’t reply to CNN’s requests for remark.

But theories about the reason for the catastrophe provide little consolation to the households of those that died.

“Children are everything,” stated Prabhulal Bodha, sporting white to mark a day of mourning for his prolonged household.

“The children are not here and it is so painful. How will we bear this? We do not know.”

The suspension bridge has hung throughout the Machchhu River for so long as anybody can keep in mind.

It was constructed throughout British rule round 1900, and attracts vacationers who maintain skinny wire railings for the 230 meter (755 ft) stroll from one aspect to the opposite.

On Sunday October 30, lots of of households had crammed onto the bridge, which is simply 1.25 meters (4 ft) huge, to have a good time Diwali – the Hindu pageant of lights.

Gujarat authorities estimate some 200 individuals had been on the bridge when it collapsed – way more than the capability allowed, they stated.

Among them had been eight-year-old Faizan and five-year-old Mahinoor Majothi, who had been days away from going again to highschool after the Diwali holidays.

Their grandmother, Himilaben Khumbhar, was on the bridge with them when it snapped.

“I didn’t realize what was happening until we fell into the water,” she stated. “I was swimming and got help from people. My life was saved but my daughter, son-in-law and the children all died.”

Faizan and Mahinoor’s faculty baggage nonetheless lie within the nook of the entrance room – a continuing reminder of grief and loss.

“I want that action be taken and all the people responsible should be punished,” stated Kumbhar’s relative, Ibrahim Mojothi.

“It is not just me who has lost a family. Scores of people have lost their families … My brother, sister-in-law, nephew, niece are all gone. No one is left.”

Divya Ravardeo was additionally on the bridge when it collapsed. She recollects individuals screaming, desperately attempting to swim to security and save their family members.

Her niece and nephew – six and 4 – drowned within the river.

“We are feeling so heartbroken,” she stated. “Words cannot describe the pain we are going through. We have so much agony in our hearts. My entire family doesn’t know how to feel about this. We are numb.”

Since the lethal incident, public scrutiny has turned to Oreva, an organization primarily based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s largest metropolis.

Oreva began out as a clockmaker earlier than diversifying into electronics, in line with its web site, which describes the agency because the “world’s largest clock manufacturing company” and “one of the major brands in India.”

The bridge was closed for six months of renovations in April, Jaysukhbhai Patel, the managing director of Oreva, informed reporters throughout a reopening ceremony on October 26.

According to a video of the occasion, Patel stated the corporate had spent near 1 / 4 of 1,000,000 {dollars} renovating the bridge. When requested what renovations had been carried out, Patel stated: “The bridge was built using wooden planks. Now, because it’s a hanging bridge, we needed to use new technical specifications and develop new methods to repair it.”

He didn’t go into element, however informed reporters the construction wouldn’t want any main work for “eight to 10 years.”

The day after the tragedy, Gujarat police stated 9 individuals had been arrested and are being investigated for culpable murder prices, all the suspects are related to Oreva. So far, no prices have been laid.

The suspects embody two managers, two ticket clerks, two contractors and three safety guards – Patel isn’t amongst them. He hasn’t spoken publicly for the reason that tragedy.

Families of the victims will obtain compensation from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, however Mojothi stated that may by no means be sufficient for his or her ache and struggling.

“All we want is that the people responsible should be punished,” he stated.

“There is no use of compensation. We do not want the money. We have no greed for that money, and we don’t want it.”