10 dead after bridge collapses in Gujarat’s Vadodara, vehicles plunge into river

A catastrophic bridge collapse in Gujarat’s Vadodara district early July 9 claimed at least ten lives and left a trail of devastation, as multiple vehicles — trucks, a van, and an auto-rickshaw —plunged into the Mahisagar river.

Nine others were rescued from the wreckage, some with minor injuries, while frantic search and rescue efforts continued into the day.

The incident unfolded on the Gambhira bridge in Mujpur village of Padra taluka, a crucial link between Vadodara and Anand districts, and a key connector between Central Gujarat and Saurashtra. Officials confirmed the bridge, built in 1981 and recently repaired, collapsed suddenly, catching commuters completely off-guard.

Eyewitness videos captured the terrifying aftermath: A large tanker dangling from the shattered edge, and desperate cries for help from a woman in the water as her child remained trapped inside a partially submerged van.

“We’ve confirmed ten fatalities so far,” Anil Dhameliya, District Collector of Vadodara, was quoted as saying. “Rescue operations are ongoing. Two trucks, a pickup van, an Eeco van, and an auto-rickshaw were on the bridge when it gave way. Two motorcycles were also present, but it’s unclear if they fell into the river.”

The Vadodara fire and emergency team and a unit from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were immediately deployed, aided by divers and rescue personnel. The operation is focused in relatively shallow sections of the river, where vehicles remain partially submerged.

Dhameliya confirmed that five survivors had been pulled from the water, four of them sustaining minor injuries. All have been admitted to local hospitals for treatment.

Significantly, Dhameliya revealed that the 43-year-old bridge had undergone repairs only last year. “A team of executive engineers from the Road and Bridges Department is en route. A technical probe into the cause of the collapse will follow once rescue work concludes.”

Anand district authorities have joined the response, deploying three fire tenders to support operations on the bridge’s opposite end. District Collector Praveen Chaudhary confirmed that traffic was being managed and additional support had been mobilized.

Local leaders have voiced outrage and concern. Anklav Congress MLA Amit Chavda, reacting on social media platform X, said, “Several vehicles have fallen into the river and big casualties are feared. The government must respond with urgency and reroute traffic immediately.”

As Gujarat grapples with yet another infrastructure disaster, questions loom large over the maintenance and safety of ageing bridges — especially those serving as critical arteries between major regions.