Gujarat Bridge Collapse: 9 Dead After 40-Year-Old Bridge Crashes Down
July 9, 2025
Gujarat Bridge Collapse—A devastating bridge collapse in Gujarat’s Vadodara district has claimed the lives of at least nine people, with several others injured. The Gambhira Bridge, which connects central Gujarat to the Saurashtra region, gave way on Wednesday morning, sending vehicles plummeting into the river Mahisagar below.
The Bridge’s History:
The 900-meter-long bridge, supported by 23 piers, was inaugurated in 1985 and has been a vital route for the past four decades. However, local residents had repeatedly flagged the deteriorating condition of the bridge, alleging that their appeals for repairs were ignored by the authorities.
The Collapse:
The incident occurred around 7:30 am, with five vehicles – two trucks, two vans, and an autorickshaw – falling into the river. Two other vehicles that came close to falling were dragged to safety. Visuals from the site showed an entire concrete slab between two piers giving way, causing vehicles to plunge into the river below.
Rescue Operations:
Rescue teams, including the district administration, police, fire department, and local residents, were quickly deployed to the site. Cranes were used to pull out submerged vehicles, and search operations continued to locate any remaining survivors. Five people were pulled out early in the operation and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Investigation:
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed his condolences over the incident and announced a team to investigate the cause of the collapse. Preliminary assessments suggest that poor structural condition and possible lack of maintenance may have contributed to the collapse. The CM has instructed teams of the state roads and buildings department and private engineers specializing in bridge construction to conduct a preliminary investigation and submit a report.
Government Response:
Minister Rushikesh Patel claimed that maintenance work on the bridge was conducted periodically, whenever needed. However, local residents disputed this, saying that their concerns were ignored. The state government has assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the collapse and to prevent such incidents in the future.
Similar Incident:
This incident comes less than two years after the tragic Morbi bridge collapse in Gujarat in October 2022, which claimed at least 135 lives. The Morbi bridge collapse raised questions about infrastructure safety and maintenance in the state.
Conclusion:
The Gujarat bridge collapse is a stark reminder of the importance of regular maintenance and inspection of infrastructure. The incident highlights the need for accountability and transparency in ensuring the safety of public infrastructure. As the investigation into the cause of the collapse continues, it is essential to identify those responsible and take corrective measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The loss of lives in this incident is a tragic reminder of the importance of prioritizing infrastructure safety. The government must take concrete steps to ensure that public infrastructure is regularly inspected and maintained to prevent such incidents. The people of Gujarat deserve safe and reliable infrastructure, and it is the responsibility of the authorities to provide it.
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