Tragedy strikes at Gambhira Bridge
A portion of the four-decade-old Gambhira Bridge over the Mahisagar River collapsed on Wednesday morning, killing atleast nine people and injuring at least six in Gujarat’s Vadodara district.
10 confirmed dead, 4 rescued so far
Vadodara SP (Rural) Rohan Anand confirmed ten deaths, while Anand MP Mitesh Patel reported four people rescued by afternoon.
Locals alerted authorities
Locals who witnessed the collapse quickly alerted emergency services, prompting a massive rescue operation by police, fire brigade, and disaster response teams.
Vehicles plunged into river
A truck, a van, and a car were crossing the bridge when it gave way around 7:30 am, sending the vehicles crashing into the river below.
Emergency response mobilised
Rescue teams from Vadodara and Anand districts rushed to the site on the Padra–Mujpur stretch, a key transport link between Central Gujarat and Saurashtra.
Rescue operations underway
Fire brigade officials confirmed that 10 individuals were pulled out of the river while efforts continued to retrieve others trapped in the wreckage.
PM announces ex-gratia aid; CM orders probe
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 Lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. CM Bhupendra Patel to get a detailed briefing on the incident, rescue efforts, and treatment of the injured.
Bridge severed a vital link
The collapsed bridge, located 25 km from Vadodara, served as a major route for vehicles heading toward Saurashtra, highlighting the impact of the tragedy on regional transport.