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India.com
09-07-2025
- General
- India.com
Gujarat Bridge Collapse: How Authorities Kept Ignoring Red Flags Leading To Loss Of Lives
The collapse of a 40-year-old bridge in Gujarat has claimed nine lives. While the political leaders are busy condoling the loss of lives and announcing compensation, the bridge was a 'disaster-in-waiting'. However, reports suggest that this tragedy was invited by authorities as they kept ignoring the red flags. Several citizens and local news channels have highlighted the dilapidated condition of the bridge, but officials paid no heed to it. A local Gujarati outlet had already reported in Apr 2025 about the poor condition of the Gambhira bridge that collapsed today, killing 10. It should have been shut to traffic back then for proper inspection and either repaired or decommissioned. Several other people too have… — THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) July 9, 2025 This is yet another tragedy in Gujarat after the devastating Morbi bridge collapse. ?75,689 crore allocated to Gujarat for overall infrastructure in 2024 ?550 Crore Specifically to Bridge maintenance after Morbi incident Warning was given by People about poor condition of Gambhira bridge No action was taken Who will get arrested now? — ??Indian Gems (@IndianGems_) July 9, 2025 While the Gujarat government has kept aside Rs 500 crore for bridge maintenance and repairs, the officials appear to have been waiting for yet another tragedy to wake them up. Across the world, critical infrastructures like bridges and flyovers are subjected to regular checks and timely maintenance. But in Gujarat, Babus have left everything to fate. The Gambhira Bridge, in use since 1985, had long been in a deteriorating condition and posed a serious risk. Acting on the recommendation of local BJP MLA Chaitanyasinh Zala, the state government had sanctioned the construction of a new bridge. A survey was carried out, and preparations for the new structure were underway. Meanwhile, the existing bridge underwent repairs and continued to remain open for public use. However, local residents reported that it would shake alarmingly whenever vehicles passed over it. There have been multiple social media posts about the dilapidated condition of the Gambhira bridge over the Mahisagar River, connecting Vadodara and Anand districts of Gujarat. However, all these requests seeking an inspection and maintenance were ignored. Now, the question is - Who is responsible for this 'man-made' tragedy? Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that an inquiry has been ordered in the case. "Orders have been issued to the Roads and Buildings Department for an immediate investigation into the incident. A team comprising the Chief Engineer (Design), the Chief Engineer (South Gujarat), and two private engineers who are experts in bridge construction has been instructed to reach the site immediately, conduct a preliminary inquiry into the cause of the collapse and other technical aspects, and submit a report," he said. But isn't it too late? Leader of Congress Legislative Party - Gujarat, Amit Chavda, said that there has been a demand for a new bridge on the river to replace the old one, but the government ignored it. "Thousands of young people commute daily across this bridge for employment, and traffic from all over Saurashtra passes through here. We have been consistently raising the demand that the condition of this bridge is not good and that it needs to be repaired. Given the age of the bridge, it was repeatedly stated that its time limit was about to expire. In such a case, a new bridge should have been constructed, but the government did not listen to anyone. Today's accident is the result of the Gujarat government's negligence, and the BJP government is responsible for the lives lost. We demand an investigation into this matter. The Gujarat government should conduct an audit of all the bridges in the state and make their fitness certificates public," said Chavda. Vadodara Superintendent of Police (SP) Rohan Anand said that nine people have died and nine others have been rescued following the collapse of a slab on the Gambhira bridge in the Padra area of Gujarat's Vadodara district. He said that a 10-15 metre slab in the middle of the bridge had collapsed. Two trucks, two pickup vans, and a rickshaw fell into the river while two vehicles remained stranded on the bridge. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of the deceased in the Vadodara bridge collapse. The injured would be given Rs 50,000. PM Modi paid condolences to the families of the deceased.
New York Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Maple Leafs lineup questions vs. Panthers: Game-time decisions loom over Game 5
TORONTO — No hyperbole here: Game 5 against the Florida Panthers is the most important game of the Maple Leafs' season and likely in the playoff careers of their stars. After squandering a 2-0 series lead, the Leafs have surrendered all the momentum in the second round. The Panthers are looking comfortable playing their nasty, punishing brand of hockey. How the Leafs — especially the core — respond could not only dictate how this series unfolds, but also the future of this roster. The NHL's most touted free agent this summer is wearing blue and white, after all. Advertisement Teams that win Game 5 of a knotted series historically have gone on to win the series most of the time. And so a Leafs win, with dominant performances from their stars, could put the team in the driver's seat to, just maybe, finally get out of the second round for the first time in a generation. A loss would see the team head back to Florida, where the Panthers have lost just two of their last eight playoff games stretching back to last year's Stanley Cup Final. And a loss would amplify questions over whether this core can win late in series. It appears the Leafs' lineup is in for a shakeup, too. It's the kind of game that will see the Leafs either rewrite or re-establish old narratives. Buckle up. ??? McCabe — Tanev Rielly — Carlo Benoit — Ekman-Larsson Woll Murray At Tuesday morning's practice, it looked like nothing much would change for Game 5. By Wednesday morning, though, it was the opposite. Change appears to be in the making for the Leafs' Game 5 lineup, almost certainly in the forward group. Some hints: The team's black aces didn't stay out for extra work at the optional morning skate as they usually would. They were called off quickly. One of those extras, David Kämpf, didn't skate at all. Neither did a usual participant, Bobby McMann. All Craig Berube would say was the Leafs had game-time decisions to make and those decisions weren't about injuries. They were coach's decisions. Change in the bottom six feels most likely with what little they've provided so far this series. Maybe that's Kämpf and/or Nick Robertson, who could provide a jolt of offence in his return to the lineup. My thought? Hook Robertson up with McMann and Max Domi and hope that line, sporadically punchy during the regular season, will pop for a goal. And bring in Kämpf for more speed and size in the middle of the fourth line, pairing him with Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz. — Siegel Advertisement Can the Leafs make the Panthers pay for penalties? The Leafs are just 2-for-15 on the power play in this series. Again and again, the top unit has missed opportunities to come through in big spots and generate momentum. In Game 4, the most dangerous player on the Leafs' three power plays was probably Sam Reinhart, a Panther, who generated a couple dangerous short-handed looks. Keys for the group in Game 5: Cleaner entries, quicker puck movement, a more direct shot-based approach, and maybe most important of all, persistence. As William Nylander told me on Tuesday, the Leafs have let one missed chance on the power play spoil their approach on subsequent opportunities. Keep an eye on Nylander in Game 5. He has yet to register a shot on the power play all series. — Siegel Will Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner produce when it matters? Considering their AAV and production through the regular season and early in playoff rounds, Auston Matthews' and Mitch Marner's late-series production has been disappointing. Through Games 5 to 7 of Matthews' playoff career: 21 GP, nine goals, five assists. Through Games 5 to 7 of Marner's playoff career: 23 GP, one goal, nine assists. Those kinds of numbers won't suffice if the Leafs want to win the best-of-three that this series has become. The Leafs need more offence in the big moments from the players who should be delivering. Game 5 against the Senators — in which the Leafs could have closed out the series and bought themselves an extra few days of rest — saw Matthews and Marner fail to log a point and go minus-4. Game 5 against the Panthers represents the best chance of their careers to change the narrative surrounding them and their playoff failures. Matthews, in particular, needs to find the back of the net. His defensive work is elite, but the best players in the world put their teams on their backs when it's needed. But Matthews, who scored 69 goals last season, has a total of zero goals in nine career playoff games against the Panthers. Every playoff game so far has felt like one of the most important of each player's career. It's time for them to recognize the stakes and produce. — Kloke Advertisement Can Craig Berube use home ice to his advantage? Games 3 and 4 saw Panthers coach Paul Maurice get the best of the matchups on home ice. He moved the team's Selke Trophy candidate duo on his top line, Aleksander Barkov and Reinhart, away from the Matthews line. Instead, that line dominated the John Tavares line. Maurice threw known Leafs killer Brad Marchand over the boards to defend the Leafs' top line and used the length and range of Seth Jones and Niko Mikkola on the blue line to limit Matthews' shooting opportunities. It worked well enough for the Panthers to even the series. But winning the Atlantic Division gives the Leafs home ice advantage. Now it's on Berube to make the most of getting last change. Whether he can be cagey and decisive enough to put Matthews, Marner and others in prime playmaking and shooting opportunities could end up determining this series. — Kloke The puck drops in Toronto at 7 p.m. (ET) on Sportsnet, CBC, TVAS and ESPN. (Photo of Nick Robertson on Tuesday: Andrew Francis Wallace / Toronto Star via Getty Images)
