Vadodara: The devastating collapse of the Gambhira Bridge, which connected Vadodara and Anand districts in Gujarat, has claimed at least 15 lives as of Thursday morning. Search and rescue operations have now entered their secoond day, 27 hours after the incident, with four individuals still unaccounted for.
The incident occurred early Wednesday around 7:30 AM when the bridge suddenly gave way, sending five vehicles, two trucks, two pickup vans, and an auto-rickshaw, plummeting nearly 150 feet into the Mahisagar River below. So far, over eight people have been rescued, but tragically, the confirmed death toll has continued to rise. Thirteen deaths were confirmed on Wednesday, with three more bodies recovered overnight and early Thursday.
Distraught families of the missing have gathered at the site, demanding answers and faster action. They also sought an audience with the district collector. Heavy machinery, including cranes and JCBs, is being used alongside NDRF and fire department teams to recover vehicles and search for the missing. Following mounting pressure, the district collector finally arrived at the site to meet families, though he avoided media questions and left without comment.
In response to the tragedy, the Roads and Buildings Department has formed a six-member inquiry committee to investigate the cause of the collapse. The team, led by Chief Engineers C. Patel and N. K. Patel, includes senior engineers K. M. Patel, M. B. Desai, and N. V. Rathwa. The committee is tasked with identifying structural faults, lapses in maintenance, or negligence. A full report is expected to be submitted to the state government within 30 days, along with recommendations to prevent such incidents in the future.
As high-level officials continue their inspection at the site, questions remain over the safety of aging infrastructure and the urgency of reform. The state watches closely as efforts continue to bring closure to the grieving families.
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