Thursday, 10 July 2025
Thursday, 10 July 2025
10 persons were killed and six others rescued after several vehicles fell into a river when the portion of a four-decade-old bridge collapsed in Gujarat's Vadodara district on Wednesday morning, officials said.
Five to six vehicles fell into the Mahisagar river after a slab of the Gambhira bridge, located on the river which connects central Gujarat and Saurashtra regions of the state, collapsed, Gujarat's Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said.
"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 Roads and Buildings Department and other teams to go there and take concrete measures," Patel told reporters earlier.
He said the bridge was constructed in 1985, and its maintenance was carried out periodically as and when required.
"The exact reason behind the incident will be probed," the minister said.
Chief minister Bhupendra Patel has directed technical experts to reach the site and conduct a probe into the reason for the collapse, he said.
CM Bhupendra Patel wrote on X, "The tragedy caused by the collapse of one of the 23 spans of the Gambhira bridge connecting Anand and Vadodara is sad. I pray for those killed in this accident. I have spoken to the Vadodara Collector and have been instructed to arrange for immediate treatment of the injured and make arrangements on priority basis."
"The fire brigade team of the local municipality and Vadodara Municipal Corporation is engaged in rescue and relief operations at the accident site with boats and swimmers, while the NDRF team has also reached the spot and joined the rescue operation. The Road Construction Department has been ordered to conduct an immediate investigation into this accident," he added.
Patel announced ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 each to those injured.
Anil Dhameliya, Vadodara collector said, "Rescue operation started this morning. Local swimmers, boats and team of Municipal Corporation reached the spot immediately. VMC, Emergency Response Centre, NDRF teams and other administration, police team are here. Rescue operation is ongoing."
Praveen Chaudhary, Anand collector said, "According to preliminary information, a truck, an Eco, and some bikes fell below. Rescue operations are ongoing. Arrangements are being made to prevent a tanker stuck on the bridge from falling."
Rohan Anand, SP Vadodara said, "We came to know that a 10-15 metres slab in the middle of the bridge collapsed. There were two vehicles on the bridge that got stranded. Two trucks, two pickups and a rickshaw fell into the river below."
"None of the people who have been rescued are critical. Rescue operation is still underway. Traffic has been diverted for the movement of light vehicles," he added.
Visuals showed the entire slab of the bridge between two piers having collapsed.
The incident occurred at around 7.30 am, and the vehicles, including two trucks and two vans, fell into the river, Padra police inspector Vijay Charan earlier said.
A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also left for the incident site with rescue equipment, the official said.
The 900-metre-long Gambhira bridge has 23 piers and connects Vadodara and Anand districts of Gujarat. It was inaugurated in 1985.
