Wall clock, e-bike maker Oreva group at centre of Morbi bridge collapse

It is not known how Oreva group — which specialises in CFL bulbs, wall clocks and e-bikes — was awarded the contract to maintain and manage the bridge by the Morbi municipality

Rescuers on boats search on October 31, 2022 in the Machchu river next to a cable suspension bridge that collapsed in Gujarat’s Morbi. | Photo Credit: AP

Oreva group, which is under scanner following the collapse of a suspension bridge at Morbi in Gujarat that killed at least 141 people, specialises in CFL bulbs, wall clocks and e-bikes and it is not known how it managed to get the contract to maintain an over 100-year-old bridge.

Founded by Odhavji Raghavji Patel nearly five decades back, the firm manufactures wall clocks under the popular Ajanta and Orpat brands.

| Video Credit: Special Arrangement & ANI 

Patel, who died earlier this month at the age of 88 years, was a science teacher at school before turning an entrepreneur at the age of 45 years in 1971.

With a turnover of nearly ₹800 crore, the Ajanta Group now manufactures home and electrical appliances, electric lamps, calculators, ceramic products and e-bikes.

The suspension bridge, popularly called the 'jhoolta pul', over the Machchhu river was closed seven months ago for repairs and reopened on Gujarati New Year's Day on October 26. In March this year, Oreva group was awarded the contract to maintain and manage the bridge by the Morbi municipality.

In pictures | Morbi bridge collapse

Rescuers search for survivors on October 31, 2022, a day after a suspension bridge collapsed in Morbi town of Gujarat.

The old suspension bridge over the Machchhu river that collapsed in Morbi district on October 30, 2022 was reopened without safety certificate and local civic body’s approval. An FIR has been registered under IPC sections 304, 308.

People gather as rescuers search for survivors on October 31, 2022, a day after a suspension bridge collapsed in Morbi, Gujarat. It has emerged that the bridge was reopened after the repair work done by a private trust and fitness certificate was not submitted to the local civic body while reopening it.

Rescue operation underway on October 31, 2022, a day after the collapse of a suspension bridge over the Machchhu river in Gujarat's Morbi district. This is a British-era bridge which was recently repaired by a private trust.

NDRF personnel conduct a search and rescue operation early on October 31, 2022 after an old suspension bridge over the Machchhu river collapsed in Gujarat's Morbi district.

NDRF personnel assist a victim during a rescue operation on October 31, 2022 after an old suspension bridge over the Machchhu river collapsed in Morbi district.

Family members and relatives near the bodies of victims at Civil Hospital in Morbi district on October 31, 2022.

Armed Forces personnel deployed at the site during a rescue operation after the collapse of a suspension bridge over the Machchhu river in Morbi district on October 31, 2022.

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It is alleged that the bridge was opened without a fitness certificate.

While the company management was unreachable for comments, a group spokesperson soon after the accident had reportedly stated that the bridge collapsed as "too many people in the mid-section of the bridge were trying to sway it from one way to the other."

The Ahmedabad-based group through its flagship firm Ajanta Manufacturing Pvt Ltd is also present in business segments including lighting products, battery-operated bikes, home appliances, electrical accessories and electronic items such as telephones, calculators and LED TVs among others.

Started as a manufacturer of wall clocks under Ajanta Transistor Clock Manufacturing Company, Morbi-based Oreva Group diversified into new verticals.

In its profile on its website, the Oreva group claims that it employs over 6,000 people but has no mention of its construction business.

Oreva, which is known in the industry for its cost advantage, sells its products through 55,000 channel partners spread across the country.

Oreva Group, operates one of the largest manufacturing plants in India at Samakhiyali, Kutch District, Gujarat, which is spread over 200 acres of land.

In the lighting segment, after scaling its CFLs, Oreva diversified into LED Lighting Products and is one of the largest manufacturers in India.

The company, a leading player in the wall clock segment, also entered into the digital clocks segment.