The collapse of the Gambhira Bridge over the Mahisagar River in Gujarat’s Vadodara district has triggered a political storm across the state, with several opposition leaders accusing the BJP-led state government of corruption, negligence, and repeated failure to ensure public safety.

The tragedy, which took place around 7:30 am on Wednesday near Mujpur village in Padra taluka, has claimed 13 lives so far, with multiple vehicles—including two trucks, an EECO car, a pickup van, and an auto-rickshaw—plunging into the river as a 10–15 metre span of the decades-old bridge gave way.

The 900-metre-long bridge, which was commissioned in 1985 and had reportedly undergone partial repairs in 2019–20 at a cost of Rs 1.75 crore, connected the key districts of Anand and Vadodara. Despite being flagged for structural weakness for years, no comprehensive overhaul or closure to heavy vehicles was enforced.

The opposition has now launched an all-out attack on the state administration, calling for judicial probes, resignations, and criminal proceedings against those responsible.

Vaghela, Mevani, Chavda, and Others Call It a Man-Made Disaster

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela strongly criticised the BJP government’s long-standing rule, likening its corruption to a creeping threat engulfing the entire state. "In 30 years of BJP rule, corruption has become like a python slowly swallowing all of Gujarat. Today, the BJP is treating citizens like slaves and imposing its will arbitrarily. When people stop questioning their rulers, such irresponsible governments grow bolder—and ultimately, the common man pays with his life,” he said in a video message.

He went on to contrast present-day governance with colonial-era infrastructure practices: "When the British built bridges, they used to put up boards listing the construction date and lifespan of the bridge. But this corrupt government does not inspect or declare such information. That is why the Gambhira-Mujpur Bridge, connecting Anand and Vadodara, collapsed, killing innocent people and injuring others."

Congress MLA from Vadgam, Jignesh Mevani, also launched a scathing attack on the state government, stating, "This bridge collapse is the result of corruption under the BJP government. The so-called ‘strict investigation’ they now promise is just another drama, as seen after the Morbi Bridge Collapse, Rajkot Gamezone Fire, and Harni Boat Tragedy."

Mevani demanded an independent probe and accountability: "An SIT should be formed comprising honest officials. Those responsible—be it the contractor or government officials—must be brought to justice. And if that doesn’t happen, the Chief Minister should resign."

Congress MLA Amit Chavda underscored the critical role the bridge played for residents of Saurashtra and Central Gujarat. "This was a very old bridge, used daily by thousands, including students, workers, and farmers. We repeatedly urged the government, and even local citizens filed written complaints, demanding either renovation or construction of a new bridge. But the administration ignored all warnings,” Chavda said.

He added: "Because of the government’s criminal negligence, this bridge collapsed and people lost their lives. I have spoken with the local administration and demanded that the rescue operation be carried out with full efficiency. Why hasn't this government conducted safety audits of all state bridges and made those reports public?"

Umesh Makwana and Congress Spokespersons Demand Legal Action

Botad MLA Umesh Makwana criticised the system’s inaction even after high-level meetings. "The Gambhira Bridge, connecting Saurashtra and North Gujarat, has collapsed. Several vehicles fell into the river. This is a serious issue. There are many such dilapidated bridges and roads across Gujarat that need urgent attention,” he said.

He called for immediate and long-term measures. "I request the Chief Minister to reconstruct all such collapsed and deteriorated bridges and also repair broken roads. Though a high-level meeting was held two days ago, the officials do not step outside their offices to implement any of the government's instructions, leading to such disasters,” he alleged.

He urged legal accountability. He says, "The Gambhira Bridge was built around 1982. A detailed survey of all such old bridges must be carried out. Until new ones are built, wherever lives are lost due to negligence, charges of culpable homicide must be filed against the responsible officers, and appropriate legal and police action should be taken."

Congress spokesperson Nishant Raval accused the government of fraudulent governance: "This bridge collapse reflects BJP’s ‘Act of Fraud’ in Gujarat. It is a man-made disaster. Residents had long complained about the bridge’s worsening condition, yet the state turned a deaf ear. This incident reminds us of the deadly Morbi Bridge collapse in 2022. Just two years later, another bridge has collapsed. The BJP government is neither accountable nor serious about safety."

He demanded transparency: "I had urged the government to release the safety audit reports of Vadodara’s bridges, but nothing happened. Gujarat is now beginning to resemble Bihar, where such collapses are frequent. If the CM has any shame left, he must terminate all officials involved within 24 hours."

Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi echoed similar sentiments, holding the administration culpable: "Such tragedies continue to occur under the BJP’s rule. Multiple under-construction bridges have collapsed, and even those under repair have fallen apart. After each horrifying incident, the government parrots the same response — that an investigation will happen. These are hollow assurances."

He added: "This is a direct result of the administration’s criminal negligence. Even after urgent appeals for repairs, no steps were taken. Strict action must be taken against those responsible. Congress demands a fair, transparent, and deep inquiry, headed by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court or High Court. Citizens must be protected from future disasters caused by substandard construction."

As rescue efforts conclude and the state government begins its technical probe, the demand for an independent judicial investigation, public infrastructure audits, and top-level accountability continues to grow. With 13 confirmed deaths and a fractured link between two major districts, the Gambhira Bridge collapse has once again exposed the perilous state of public infrastructure in Gujarat—and has initiated calls for meaningful reform.