Gujarat Bridge Collapse: 9 Dead, Rescue Efforts Ongoing as Vehicles Plunge into River
In a tragic incident in Gujarat’s Vadodara district, at least nine people lost their lives after a span of the Gambhira Bridge collapsed on Monday, sending multiple vehicles plunging into the Mahisagar River below. The nearly 900-metre-long bridge, which connects Vadodara and Anand, suffered a catastrophic structural failure as one of its 23 spans gave way.
Preliminary reports indicated that five vehicles — two trucks, two vans, and an autorickshaw — were crossing the bridge when the collapse occurred. Authorities confirmed that nine bodies have been recovered so far, while nine injured individuals have been rescued and are receiving medical treatment.
A haunting video from the site shows a truck hanging precariously from the broken edge of the bridge, caught between two piers where an entire slab has given way. Hours after the collapse, the truck remained stuck on the fractured portion. The tanker driver reportedly managed to escape the vehicle but has since gone missing.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with teams using cranes and three JCB machines to retrieve another truck that had fallen into the river. However, authorities noted that the truck remains submerged and unmoved due to the complexity of the situation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident, describing the loss of lives as “deeply saddening.” He announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also declared ₹4 lakh compensation for each victim’s family and ₹50,000 for the injured.
CM Patel ordered an immediate and detailed investigation into the cause of the collapse. He dispatched the Chief Engineer, members of the bridge design team, and structural experts to the site to assess the damage and conduct a preliminary inquiry.
“The Road Construction Department has been instructed to conduct an immediate investigation into the incident. A team comprising the Chief Engineer – Design, Chief Engineer – South Gujarat, and two private engineers with bridge expertise is carrying out a preliminary probe into the technical causes,” Patel wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The Gambhira Bridge has a long history, with construction starting in 1981 and the structure opening to the public in 1985. In 2017, the Congress party had raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of the bridge, even demanding a ban on heavy vehicles using the structure.
Recognising the aging infrastructure, the state government had approved a new bridge project three months ago at an estimated cost of ₹212 crore. The design and tendering work for the new bridge had already commenced before the collapse occurred.
As rescue and recovery operations continue, public outrage is mounting over the apparent neglect of safety warnings and delayed infrastructure upgrades. The state government has assured that those responsible will be held accountable after a full investigation.
Meanwhile, medical teams, disaster response units, and engineers remain on site to assist survivors and assess the structural damage, as Gujarat mourns yet another infrastructural tragedy.
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