In a tragic incident early Wednesday morning, a portion of the Gambhira-Mujpur bridge in Padra taluka, Vadodara district, collapsed, causing multiple vehicles—including a truck and a Bolero SUV—to plunge into the Mahi River. The bridge, which connects Anand and Vadodara districts, gave way during peak morning hours when traffic was high.
Casualties and Rescue Efforts
- Death Toll: The number of confirmed deaths has risen to 12.
- Injured: At least six people have been injured and shifted to nearby hospitals.
- Vehicles Affected: A total of seven vehicles reportedly fell into the river.
- Rescue Operations: Fire brigade teams, local police, and district officials are on-site, with ongoing efforts to retrieve vehicles and locate missing persons. Locals are also assisting in the rescue.
According to the Vadodara Collector, recovery of a large truck from the river has proven difficult, and operations are still underway.
Victims Identified
Deceased:
- Vedika Padhiyar
- Naitik Padhiyar
- Hasmukh Parmar
- Ramesh Padhiyar
- Vakhtsinh Jadav
- Pravin Jadav
- Two victims remain unidentified
Injured:
- Sonal Padhiyar
- Narendrasinh Parmar
- Ganpatsinh Rajula
- Dilipbhai Padhiyar
- Raju Dadubhai
- Rajesh Chavda
Compensation Announced
- Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel:
- ₹4 lakh ex-gratia for families of the deceased
- ₹50,000 for injured victims
- Directed officials to prioritise treatment and relief efforts
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi:
- Expressed grief over the tragedy
- Announced ₹2 lakh from the PM National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for next of kin of the deceased
- ₹50,000 for the injured
- President of India:
- Extended condolences and wished a speedy recovery to the injured
Traffic Diversions Announced
To manage traffic following the bridge collapse, authorities have issued alternative route advisories:
- Heavy vehicles from Tarapur to Vadodara: Use Vasad route
- Light vehicles: Use Umeta route instead of Gambhira bridge
- Padra to Anand/Tarapur:
- Heavy vehicles: Vasad route
- Light vehicles: Umeta route
Political Reactions and Allegations
Locals and political figures have blamed the collapse on poor maintenance. Residents allege that despite warnings, no action was taken to repair the ageing structure. Padra MLA Chaitanyasinh Zala rushed to the site to assess the situation.
The bridge’s sudden collapse has triggered calls for a high-level investigation to determine the cause and accountability.
Investigation and Aftermath
Authorities have cordoned off the area to prevent further accidents. A formal inquiry is expected to be launched soon to investigate structural integrity, maintenance lapses, and possible negligence.
The tragedy has raised serious questions about infrastructure safety across the state.