Thirteen people were killed and several vehicles plunged into the Mahisagar (Mahi) River after a section of the Gambhira-Mujpur bridge in Padra taluka of Gujarat&rsquo;s Vadodara district collapsed on Wednesday morning.
The bridge, which links the Anand and Vadodara districts, gave way during peak traffic hours, resulting in fatalities and injuries to three others.
According to preliminary reports, four vehicles&mdash;including two lorries, a Bolero SUV, and a pick-up van&mdash;were crossing the bridge when it suddenly collapsed.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud cracking noise moments before the vehicles fell into the river. Fire brigade teams, local police, and Vadodara district administration officials rushed to the site and launched immediate rescue operations.
Local residents also assisted in extracting the injured from the debris. So far, three people have been rescued and admitted to nearby hospitals.
Padra MLA Chaitanyasinh Zala visited the site shortly after the incident.
Authorities have cordoned off the area to prevent further mishaps and have initiated an investigation into the cause of the collapse.
Locals allege that the bridge&mdash;a crucial route connecting Central Gujarat to Saurashtra and used extensively by commuters from Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, and Ankleshwar&mdash;had long been neglected by the authorities.
&ldquo;The Gambhira bridge has become infamous not only as a traffic hazard but also as a suicide point. Repeated warnings about its poor condition were ignored,&rdquo; said one resident.
Senior Congress leader Amit Chavda posted on social media: "The main Gambhira bridge connecting Anand and Vadodara districts has collapsed. Many vehicles have fallen into the river, and major casualties are feared. The administration must immediately carry out rescue operations and arrange alternate routes for traffic."
Divers continued searching the river for any missing persons, while cranes were deployed to retrieve the submerged vehicles.
Further details are awaited.
A comprehensive technical inspection and safety audit of similar structures in the region is expected to follow.
Statement from R&amp;B Executive Engineer N.M. Nayakwala: "The bridge was constructed in 1985 and such structures typically have a lifespan of 100 years. No formal request or indication had been received suggesting that the bridge was in a dilapidated condition.&nbsp;Repairs were carried out last year after some issues were identified, and potholes were filled this year as part of routine maintenance.&nbsp;Our inspection reports did not indicate any major structural damage.The bridge was not deemed to be in a weakened state. The exact cause of the collapse will only be known after a detailed report is received."&nbsp;
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[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed]

span of Gambhira bridge collapsed in Gujarat

Neglected Gambhira bridge collapses, killing 13; locals blame authorities for ignoring warnings

Bridge collapse claims 13 lives in Gujarat

Neglected Gambhira bridge collapses, killing 13; locals blame authorities for ignoring warnings

July 9, 2025 | 16:57 IST