Vadodara: In the wake of the tragic collapse of the Gambhira bridge, which connects Vadodara and Anand over the Mahisagar river, the Gujarat government has announced the formation of a six-member committee to investigate the incident. The decision comes amid mounting concerns over infrastructure safety and accountability, following the death of 14 people in the disaster.
The bridge, built approximately 45 years ago, collapsed early on the morning of July 9 at around 7:30 a.m. The structure gave way between two piers, sending several vehicles, including two trucks, two pickup vans, and an auto-rickshaw, into the Mahisagar river below. Rescue teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), were immediately deployed to the site to conduct search and recovery operations.
As of Thursday morning, the death toll has climbed to 14. Thirteen bodies were recovered on the day of the incident, while another was found during early morning search efforts on July 10. The latest body was sent to the Padra Community Health Centre for formalities. More than eight people have been rescued from the river, while six others remain unaccounted for. Search operations are ongoing.
In response to the incident, the state government has set up a committee composed of senior engineers, department heads, and officials from the Roads and Buildings Department. This panel has been tasked with examining the reasons behind the collapse, assessing any structural failures or lapses in maintenance, and determining if negligence played a role. The committee will also be responsible for submitting a preliminary report in the coming days and a detailed investigation report within 30 days. Recommendations on how to prevent such incidents in the future will also be included in the final findings.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on an overseas visit, was briefed about the incident and immediately contacted Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. During a telephonic conversation, the Prime Minister inquired about the details of the accident, expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, and asked about the medical assistance being provided to the injured. He also sought updates on the rescue and relief efforts initiated by the state government.
The collapse of the Gambhira bridge has sparked questions about the condition of aging infrastructure in Gujarat, especially bridges that serve as key connectors between major regions. As the search continues for those still missing, the focus has now shifted to accountability, structural safety, and the measures needed to prevent future tragedies of this scale.
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