VADODARA, GUJARAT – July 9: At least 11 people have died and several others injured after a portion of the nearly 900-meter-long Gambhira Bridge over the Mahisagar River in Gujarat’s Vadodara district collapsed this morning. The incident, which occurred around 7:30 AM, saw at least five vehicles, including trucks, vans, and a car, plunge into the river below.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed deep sorrow over the “deeply saddening” incident, confirming that one of the 23 spans of the bridge had collapsed.
Preliminary reports indicated multiple vehicles were involved, with one dramatic visual showing a truck precariously hanging from the broken section of the bridge for several hours before its driver safely escaped. Efforts are still underway to retrieve another truck submerged in the Mahisagar river, with cranes and JCB machines deployed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Concurrently, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the families of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to those injured, assuring that all necessary medical treatment would be provided by the state government.
The Gambhira Bridge, constructed in 1981 and opened for public use in 1985, serves as a crucial link between Central Gujarat and Saurashtra. Its deteriorating condition had reportedly been a concern, with the Congress party having demanded its closure to heavy vehicles back in 2017. Recognizing the volume of traffic on the aging structure, the Chief Minister had approved a new bridge worth Rs 212 crore just three months ago, with design and tendering work already in progress.
Following the tragic collapse, Chief Minister Patel immediately dispatched a team of experts, including the Chief Engineer, bridge design team, and two private engineers with expertise in bridge construction, to the site. He has ordered an immediate and detailed investigation into the incident, instructing the Road Construction Department to submit a preliminary report on the cause of the collapse and other technical matters.
The incident has highlighted concerns about the maintenance and safety of aging infrastructure in the region, drawing comparisons to previous bridge collapse tragedies in India. Rescue operations are continuing at the site, with local authorities, fire brigade officials, and disaster response units working to search for any more victims and manage the aftermath of the collapse.
