The death toll in the tragic Gambhira bridge collapse in Gujarat’s Vadodara district has climbed to 15, with three individuals still missing. Rescue operations are underway, with disaster response teams on-site battling adverse conditions including deep mud and heavy rain. Officials suspect two more vehicles—a car and a truck—may still be submerged in the Mahisagar River.
Providing updates on the ongoing efforts, Vadodara District Collector Anil Dhameliya said, “The death count is now 15, and three people remain untraced.” He urged citizens to report any missing persons to the control room to assist the rescue teams. The Collector added that deep silt, nearly three metres thick, is hampering operations, prompting the construction of a makeshift bridge to assist rescue personnel.
The incident occurred early on Tuesday morning when the 40-year-old Gambhira bridge, linking Vadodara and Anand districts, collapsed suddenly, sending multiple vehicles, including trucks, plunging into the river. The bridge, built in 1985, had long been flagged as unsafe by local residents, who said it trembled when vehicles crossed it. Although a survey had been carried out and plans for a new bridge were underway following a recommendation by BJP MLA Chaitanyasinh Zala, the old bridge was merely repaired and remained open to traffic.
The collapse has triggered widespread outrage and raised questions about administrative negligence. In response, the Bhupendra Patel-led Gujarat government has ordered an official probe to determine the cause of the collapse and identify lapses in maintenance or oversight.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the incident, calling the loss of lives “deeply saddening.” The PMO announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the families of the deceased, and ₹50,000 for each injured person. Separately, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced ₹4 lakh compensation for the kin of each victim and ₹50,000 for the injured, with the state bearing the cost of their treatment.
The Opposition Congress party has strongly criticised the Gujarat government, calling the incident a grim reflection of the “corruption and decay behind the Gujarat Model.” In a social media statement, the party extended condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the injured, while also alleging rampant corruption in the state’s infrastructure development projects.
