Fifteen people have been confirmed dead and three remain missing following the collapse of the Gambhira Bridge in Gujarat&rsquo;s Vadodara district. The incident took place early Wednesday morning when a large portion of the 40-year-old bridge, spanning the Mahisagar River near Padra, gave way, sending several vehicles plunging into the water.
Rescue efforts have been underway since the collapse, involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and multiple other agencies.
Visuals from the site showed a significant section of the bridge missing between two piers, with at least five vehicles&mdash;including a chemical tanker&mdash;falling into the river. A tanker seen hanging precariously from the edge of the remaining structure is currently being stabilised by authorities to prevent further danger.
Vadodara District Collector Anil Dhameliya, present at the site, provided updates on the ongoing operations. &ldquo;As of now, the death toll stands at 15. We have recovered three more bodies this morning. Three individuals are still missing,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;
He added that rescue teams are struggling with harsh conditions. &ldquo;The mud and persistent rain are complicating the operation. We are building a temporary bridge to support the rescue teams in recovering submerged vehicles. If anyone has information about missing persons, please contact our control room. It will help accelerate the rescue process.&rdquo;
More than 10 teams are engaged in the search, which is being extended up to four kilometres downstream. Speaking to Benefit News, Dhameliya said, &ldquo;We have had tremendous cooperation from locals, and I am personally monitoring the operations at the site. We have already recovered the Eeco car and pickup van, and we are using heavy mechanical power to take out the trucks. Our search for more dead bodies is intense and ongoing. A high-level technical team is also inspecting the bridge and figuring out the cause behind the collapse."
The Padra Police have registered an accidental death case based on a complaint filed by Arjunsinh Padhiar, a resident of Dariyapura village near Mujpur. Officials confirmed that forensic teams will examine structural remnants once rescue operations conclude. Statements from survivors, eyewitnesses, and families of the victims are also being collected as part of the investigation.
Environmental concerns emerged after it was confirmed that one of the submerged vehicles was a chemical tanker. Officials from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) visited the site and are monitoring potential contamination risks in the river. Authorities have indicated that portions of the remaining bridge structure may be dismantled to ensure public safety.
Built in 1985, the Gambhira Bridge had reportedly shown signs of structural weakness for some time. Residents claimed the bridge would often tremble when vehicles passed over it. Local BJP MLA Chaitanyasinh Zala had earlier raised concerns about the bridge&rsquo;s condition and recommended the construction of a new one.&nbsp;
While the government approved the proposal and conducted a survey, the existing bridge remained operational after undergoing repair work.
In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and described the incident as &ldquo;deeply saddening.&rdquo; The Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office announced ex gratia compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).&nbsp;
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also announced state compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured, along with full coverage of medical treatment costs. The state government has ordered an official inquiry into the incident.
This latest incident has reignited concerns over the condition of public infrastructure in Gujarat. The state has reported over a dozen major bridge collapses and structural failures in the past five years. These include the Morbi bridge collapse in October 2022, the collapse of a bullet train bridge segment in Anand in November 2024, and the Halvad bridge collapse in Morbi in August 2024.
Other incidents include the Khari River bridge collapse in Mehsana (January 2020), the Mumtazpura bridge failure in Ahmedabad (December 2021), closure of the Hatkeshwar bridge (2022), the Palanpur bridge collapse (October 2023), Visnagar bridge sinking (February 2024), damage to the Saroli metro bridge in Surat (July 2024), the Chotila bridge collapse in Surendranagar (August 2024), and the Pataliya River bridge damage in Botad (June 2025).
Opposition leaders have criticised the administration over its management of public infrastructure. The Congress party, in a statement, said, &ldquo;Several vehicles fell into the river in this horrific accident, causing multiple fatalities and injuries. We offer our deepest condolences and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The party alleged rampant corruption in Gujarat&rsquo;s infrastructure projects and claimed the collapse reflects the failure of the so-called &lsquo;Gujarat Model.&rsquo;
Authorities have indicated that a broader audit of bridge safety across the state may be conducted once rescue and investigation efforts are completed.
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Gambhira bridge disaster exposes infrastructure gaps, search teams battle rain, mud, and time.

Gambhira Bridge Collapse Claims 15 Lives in Gujarat

Gambhira bridge disaster exposes infrastructure gaps, search teams battle rain, mud, and time.

July 10, 2025 | 13:18 IST