Seventeen people have lost their lives after the Mujpur-Gambhira bridge, a 40-year-old structure connecting Vadodara and Anand, collapsed on Wednesday, sending several vehicles plunging into the Mahisagar River. The bridge gave way as two trucks, two pickups, a rickshaw, and multiple two-wheelers were crossing, cutting off a vital route between Central Gujarat and Saurashtra.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has ordered the immediate suspension of four officials from the Roads and Buildings Department. Those suspended include Executive Engineer NM Nayakawala, Deputy Executive Engineers UC Patel and RT Patel, and Assistant Engineer JV Shah. The action follows a preliminary technical inquiry that uncovered serious failures in maintenance and oversight.
A specialised team of structural experts conducted an initial assessment at the collapse site, reviewing repair records, inspection reports, and historical upkeep. Their findings pointed to significant lapses, prompting the Chief Minister to take disciplinary action and direct the Roads and Housing Department to launch a state-wide inspection of all bridges, particularly those exposed to heavy traffic volumes.
&ldquo;Such carelessness will not be tolerated when the lives of citizens are at stake,&rdquo; said CM Patel. &ldquo;Those responsible must be held accountable. We owe that to the families who lost their loved ones.&rdquo;&nbsp;
He further instructed that structurally weak bridges be either reconstructed or repaired urgently, stressing the need for zero tolerance toward negligence in infrastructure management.
Rescue operations, led by the district administration with assistance from over 10 agencies including SDRF, NDRF, and fire brigades, have continued into Thursday.&nbsp;
Vadodara Collector Anil Dhameliya, who remains on-site, confirmed to Benefit News that the official death toll has reached 17. &ldquo;Rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing,&rdquo; he said, adding that authorities had already recovered an Eeco van and a pickup truck from the water and were using heavy machinery to lift the submerged lorries.
Three additional bodies were pulled from the river on Thursday morning. Two have been identified, while efforts are underway to confirm the identity of the third. Several individuals remain missing, and families have gathered at the riverbank, pleading with authorities to deploy Army personnel and helicopters to aid in the search.&nbsp;
No confirmation regarding such reinforcements has been made so far.
According to officials, three trucks, an Eeco van, a rickshaw, a pickup, and two to three motorcycles are believed to be underwater. Authorities also suspect that an additional car may be trapped beneath one of the collapsed trucks, complicating retrieval operations.
Alongside the bridge tragedy, the Gujarat government&rsquo;s Urban Development and Urban Housing Department has transferred 29 Chief Officers in municipalities across the state, effective immediately.&nbsp;
Officers stationed in towns including Halol, Santrampur, Rajula, Chotila, Vijapur, Talala, Botad, Veraval Patan, Amreli, and others are among those reshuffled. Vishal Patel has been given additional charge of Mahudha while continuing his responsibilities in Chaklasi. The department described the reshuffle as a routine administrative measure intended to strengthen urban governance.
The Mujpur-Gambhira bridge collapse has initiated public concern over the condition of ageing infrastructure in Gujarat, drawing urgent attention to long-standing warnings and neglected repairs.
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Gambhira bridge collapse claims 17 lives; search continues as officials face suspension.

Four Officials Suspended After Gujarat Bridge Collapse

Gambhira bridge collapse claims 17 lives; search continues as officials face suspension.

July 11, 2025 | 01:16 IST