Family of BJP MP Kundariya’s sister grieves loss of 12 members in Morbi bridge collapse
Sundarji Bora, brother of Magan Bora who is married to Kundariya’s sister Mukta Bora, lost his four daughters, three sons-in-law and five grandchildren in the tragedy.
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Mohan Kundariya (third from left) with Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghvi (second from right) camp on the bank of Machhu river and oversee search and rescue operations, in Morbi on Monday. (Photo by Gopal Kateshiya)Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Rajkot Mohan Kundariya was stationed on the bank of Machhu river in Morbi town on Monday, overseeing rescue and relief operations after the Julto Pool, the historic suspension bridge, collapsed even as his family grieved loss of 12 members to the tragedy.
Sundarji Bora, brother of Magan Bora who is married to Kundariya’s sister Mukta Bora, lost his four daughters, three sons-in-law and five grandchildren in the tragedy.
Sundarji’s daughters Dhara Amrutiya, Ila Chhatrola, Shobhna alias Shruti Detroja and Ekta Jivani, Dhara’s husband Haresh Amrutiya and their two children—Jhenvi and Bhumi — were killed in the accident. So were Ila’s husband Mahesh Chhatrola and their son Naitik, and Shruti’s husband Bhavik and their son Aarav. Kunjal Raiyani (10), daughter of Durga, Dhara’s another sister, was also killed.
While Haresh was running a paan shop near Nava Bus Stand on Shanala Road in Morbi town, Mahesh was working with a branch of Rajkot District Cooperative Bank in Ahmedabad. Ekta’s husband is a teacher in a government secondary school in Viramgam. Detrojas too lived in Morbi town and Bhavik used to run a business of supplying raw material to ceramic factories in Morbi district.
“I have no words to describe the tragedy that struck my sister’s family,” Kundariya told The Indian Express.
Rescue work in progress in Morbi on Monday, a day after Jhoolto Pul came crashing down, killing 134 people. (Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)
Sundarji and his wife Ansuya, farmers from Jabalpur village in Tankara taluka of Morbi district, had six daughters and one son of which four daughters were killed.
“Haresh had invited the Chhatrolas and Detrojas as well as well as Ekta and Kunjal to his home in Morbi for a New Year family gathering on Sunday evening. The family decided to visit Julto Pool in the evening,” Ansuya’s younger brother Shantibhai Fefar told The Indian Express.
Fefar, who runs a provision store in Morbi town, said he was not ready to believe when he received the news that his family members could be among the victims. “A boy who is my customer came rushing to my shop Sunday evening, telling me Julto Pool has collapsed. I checked on Morbi Updates (a local news portal) and saw the photos of the collapsed bridge. In a while, husband of one of my nieces rang me up, asking for a photo of Haresh Amrutiya. He said the Amrutiyas and others had gone to visit the suspended bridge.”
Family members rushed to the GMERS General Hospital, Morbi, known as Morbi civil hospital, hoping to see their relatives. “But instead, we started receiving bodies of my nieces, sons-in-law and grandchildren from around 8pm,” Fefar said, adding, Haresh’s body was recovered around 11 am Monday.
Gunu Bora, son of Mutka, said that Khanpar village was shaken. “Six people of the village died in a day. A small village cannot cope with such a tragedy,” said Kundariya’s nephew.
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