Vadodara: A devastating tragedy struck early Wednesday morning as the decades-old Gambhira Bridge, spanning the Mahisagar River near Mujpur village in Padra taluka, collapsed, plunging multiple vehicles into the river below and claiming at least nine lives. Rescue efforts are ongoing, and the death toll is expected to rise.
The collapse occurred around 7:30 AM, when a significant portion of the bridge, built over 40 years ago, gave way, sending two trucks, a Bolero SUV, and a pickup van crashing into the river. Shocking visuals from the site revealed that the entire slab between two piers had caved in.
Locals, alerted by the deafening noise and chaos, rushed to the scene and managed to rescue several victims from the swirling waters. Over eight individuals have been rescued so far, with many others transported to Sayaji Hospital and nearby private healthcare centers for treatment.
The Gambhira Bridge, infamously known as “Suicide Point” due to past incidents, served as a critical route connecting Vadodara, Anand, Bharuch, and the Saurashtra region. Its collapse has not only led to immense loss of life but also severely disrupted transportation and logistics for thousands of daily commuters, farmers, and traders.
Despite undergoing repairs in 2019–20 at an estimated cost of ₹1.75 crore, the bridge had long been flagged in local reports as structurally unsound and poorly maintained. Residents had repeatedly raised concerns about its deteriorating condition, which now appear tragically justified.
Rushikesh Patel, Gujarat’s Minister for Health and Family Welfare, confirmed that the bridge was originally constructed in 1985 and that maintenance had been conducted periodically. “A full investigation will be carried out to determine the exact cause of the collapse,” Patel stated. As search and rescue operations continue in the Mahisagar River, questions are mounting over government accountability, inspection protocols, and the true state of aging infrastructure across the state.
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