13 die as Gujarat bridge collapses, 6 vehicles fall into Mahi river
VADODARA: At least 13 people, including two children, died Wednesday morning when six vehicles plunged 50 to 60 feet into Mahi river after a key section of a 39-year-old bridge caved in near Mujpur village, 27km from Vadodara.
The collapse reignited memories of the Morbi tragedy in Oct 2022, when a 19th-century suspension bridge gave way after renovation, killing 135 and injuring 56. Investigations blamed shoddy repairs and rushed timelines.
Built in 1986, the bridge near Mujpur links central Gujarat to Saurashtra and is heavily used by trucks and tankers from industrial zones in Padra and Ankleshwar. Many commuters favour it to avoid tolls on Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway.
A 15- to 20-metre segment of the 830m-long bridge gave way around 7.30am, sending three trucks, a pick-up van, an auto-rickshaw, and a seven-seater vehicle crashing into the water below. A large tanker truck teetered dangerously at the edge before being pulled to safety.
Residents of nearby Dabka and Mujpur villages, jolted awake by the sound of collapsing concrete and cries for help, mounted rescue efforts for nearly an hour before teams from Vadodara fire brigade and NDRF arrived.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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By late evening, 13 bodies had been pulled from the river. The victims were from Vadodara, Anand, and Panchmahal districts. Five injured survivors are being treated at SSG Hospital in Vadodara.
"I was on my way to Anand. The truck suddenly began shaking violently. Before I could grasp what was happening, the bridge collapsed and I plunged into the river," said driver Ganpat Solanki, who survived the fall.
Vadodara district panchayat member Harshadsinh Parmar had flagged concerns about the Gambhira bridge's condition to state govt in Aug 2022, prompting inspections.
Funds were sanctioned recently, with a new Rs 212-crore bridge project in the pipeline.
President Droupadi Murmu, PM Narendra Modi, and CM Bhupendra Patel expressed condolences. Gujarat govt announced Rs 4 lakh in compensation for families of the deceased, while Centre pledged Rs 2 lakh from PM's National Relief Fund. The injured will receive Rs 50,000 from both state and Centre.
Wednesday's tragedy added to growing calls for mandatory structural audits, stricter bridge maintenance, and accountability for years of neglected infrastructure.
A 30-year-old iron footbridge over Indrayani river near Kundamala in Pune collapsed on June 15, killing four and injuring over 50. Age, overcrowding, and ignored safety warnings were cited as reasons.
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