Nine people have allegedly lost their lives and at least nine others have been rescued after the 40-year-old Gambhira Bridge allegedly collapsed into the Mahisagar River at Padra in Vadodara district, Gujarat, on Wednesday morning.
The collapse, which reportedly occurred around 7:30 am during peak traffic hours, saw five vehicles including two trucks, a Bolero SUV, a pickup van, and an auto-rickshaw allegedly plunge into the river as the bridge gave way.
Rescue and search operations are ongoing, with cranes and divers allegedly deployed to retrieve submerged vehicles and search for missing persons.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has ordered an immediate and thorough probe, dispatching a team of technical experts to investigate the alleged cause of the collapse and promising strict action if negligence is found.
Chaos on the Mahisagar: Human Tragedy Unfolds
The Gambhira Bridge, a vital connector between Anand and Vadodara, allegedly failed without warning, leading to chaos and devastation in the region. Eyewitnesses allegedly described a sudden, thunderous sound followed by the horrifying sight of vehicles tumbling into the river.
Heart-wrenching visuals from the site showed a tanker truck precariously balanced on the shattered edge of the bridge and desperate relatives searching for missing loved ones along the riverbank. “My husband… my son…,” wailed a woman, her anguish reflecting the collective trauma of families affected by the disaster.
Emergency teams including police, fire brigade, and the National Disaster Response Force allegedly responded swiftly, working alongside local volunteers to rescue survivors and retrieve bodies.
Survivors have recounted harrowing experiences of allegedly being trapped underwater, struggling to escape from their vehicles, and witnessing others swept away by the current.
The rescue operation has been complicated by the monsoon-swollen river and the risk of further collapse.
Disrupted Connectivity and Official Response
With the Gambhira Bridge now closed, authorities have announced alternate routes for all vehicles, including diversions via Vasad and Umeta, to maintain connectivity between Central Gujarat and Saurashtra.
Additional District Magistrate Rituraj Desai has banned all vehicle movement on the collapsed bridge and the nearby Umeta Bridge for heavy vehicles, warning that violations will allegedly result in strict penalties.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel stated, “I have directed the Roads and Buildings Department to conduct an immediate investigation and submit a preliminary report on technical aspects.”
Officials have cited the bridge’s allegedly dilapidated condition and possible maintenance lapses as factors under scrutiny. Opposition leaders, including Congress MLA Amit Chavda, have alleged that repeated warnings about the bridge’s deteriorating state were ignored by authorities, making the collapse a “disaster waiting to happen.”
The Roads and Buildings Department has allegedly come under fire for not acting on inspection reports and public complaints, with local residents claiming they had repeatedly raised concerns about the bridge’s safety over the past year.
The government has assured compensation for the victims’ families and has promised to review the safety of other old bridges in the region.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This tragedy is a sombre reflection of the urgent need for robust infrastructure oversight, transparent governance, and genuine empathy for affected communities.
The loss of lives and the anguish of survivors call for not just accountability, but also a collective resolve to prevent such disasters from recurring. The Logical Indian urges authorities to prioritise regular safety audits, transparent maintenance records, and timely action on public complaints.
We must ensure that allegations of negligence are thoroughly investigated and that lessons are genuinely learned to protect our communities. How can citizens, civil society, and governments collaborate more effectively to ensure that such disasters alleged or otherwise never repeat?
