A portion of the four-decade-old Gambhira bridge in Gujarat’s Vadodara district collapsed on Wednesday morning, killing at least 11 people and injuring six others as multiple vehicles plunged into the Mahisagar river.
Vadodara Collector Anil Dhameliya confirmed the fatalities and said the injured were receiving medical care. “We have recovered nine bodies so far. Five people were injured, and the sixth injured was found just now, and he is being provided medical treatment,” Dhameliya told reporters.
Rescue teams from the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC), the Emergency Response Centre, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local police were rushed to the site soon after the incident. Boats, swimmers, and disaster response vehicles were deployed as part of the ongoing rescue operations.
According to the collector, “Vehicles that fell include two trucks, one pickup van, one Eco vehicle and one auto rickshaw. Two vehicles were lingering on the bridge.”
Anand Collector Praveen Chaudhary said efforts were underway to stabilise a fuel tanker still stranded on the bridge. “According to preliminary information, a truck, an Eco, and some bikes fell below. Rescue operations are ongoing. The Vadodara administration and NDRF are present at the site. Arrangements are being made to prevent a tanker stuck on the bridge from falling,” he said.
Visuals from the scene showed a collapsed slab between two piers, with twisted metal and debris strewn across the river.
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The 900-metre-long bridge, inaugurated in 1985, connects Vadodara and Anand districts and plays a crucial role in linking Central Gujarat to Saurashtra.
Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel confirmed earlier reports, stating, “Today, the bridge connecting Saurashtra and Central Gujarat, Anand and Padra, has collapsed. It has been learnt that about five vehicles, big and small, have fallen. Three people have died. Five people have been rescued… This bridge was built in 1985. Regular maintenance and repair of this bridge were done, but this unfortunate incident has happened.”
State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel had directed a high-level committee to visit the site and investigate the cause. “Nine bodies have been recovered and six people have been rescued. CM sent a high committee to the spot in the morning itself and he has sought a report at the earliest. Taking this very seriously, the CM has directed a team of the Roads and Buildings Department and other teams to go there and take concrete measures,” he said.
Opposition leader Amit Chavda of the Congress, however, blamed the tragedy on government negligence. “The main bridge that connects Anand and Vadodara districts in Gujarat, Gambhira bridge, collapsed this morning... The traffic from the entire Saurashtra passes through here. We had demanded from the Government again and again... that the bridge is not in good condition and it should be repaired... But the Government paid no heed. That is why the incident occurred,” Chavda said.
He also called for a state-wide audit of bridges. “Due to the negligence of the Government, this bridge collapsed today, and people died. We demand an inquiry from the Government… We also demand that such incidents happen in Gujarat again and again, so it should get all the bridges in the state audited, get fitness certificates and release the same in the public domain,” Chavda added.
Rescue and recovery operations are ongoing as authorities continue to search the riverbed for missing individuals and assess the structural safety of other sections of the bridge.
The collapse has also triggered fresh questions over the monitoring and upkeep of bridges across Gujarat. The state has witnessed multiple such incidents in recent years, most notably the Morbi suspension bridge tragedy in 2022 that claimed 135 lives.
The Gambhira bridge, which has long served as a key conduit for heavy transport and regional travel, was reportedly last inspected earlier this year, though details of the audit are yet to be disclosed by the Roads and Buildings Department.
Locals expressed shock over the accident, pointing out that there had been no public warning about any structural weaknesses.
As rescue operations progressed, traffic was diverted to alternate routes, leading to long snarls on approach roads. Authorities have appealed to motorists to avoid the area and follow official advisories.
A preliminary report on the collapse is expected to be submitted to the state government within the next 48 hours.
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