Gujarat Bridge Collapse Kills 12, Injures 9; Rescue Ops Continue in Mahisagar River

Early Wednesday morning saw a massive tragedy for Gujarat, with the 40-year-old Gambhira bridge near Padra in Vadodara district collapsing, resulting in not least a dozen deaths, with another nine injured. Approximate span of 10-15 meters of the said bridge broke off, crashing down into the river with the trucks, vans, an autorickshaw, two-wheelers, and passengers.

According to the Vadodara (Rural) Superintendent of Police Roshan Anand, nine survivors were rescued, five of them being treated at SSG Hospital. “Two to three more vehicles remain submerged, and we fear the toll may rise,” he said, since none of the injured is critical.

Video recording from the site showed a big piece of the bridge between two piers completely caved in. Eyewitnesses described horrifying moments when several vehicles, including two trucks and two vans, went into the waters, while three people on a two-wheeler swam to safety, with two other vehicles hanging off the break-edge being rescued.

The collapsed bridge was constructed in 1985 and was crucial in linking central Gujarat with Saurashtra. According to Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel, the bridge has been maintained periodically, but he has ordered an inquiry to ascertain the cause of the collapse.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while on an official tour, has condoled the loss and declared an ex gratia payment of ₹2 lakh from the PMNRF scheme to the family members of the dead and ₹50,000 to the injured. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also announced ₹4 lakh for the next-of-kin and ordered a high-level probe by a team of state engineers and private bridge experts.

President Droupadi Murmu sent heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Into the night, rescue operations with NDRF, local fire teams, and volunteers continued as officials searched for more victims still trapped in the river waters.