10 killed in Gujarat bridge collapse; PM announces Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for kin of dead

Ten people, including two siblings, were killed on Wednesday (July 9) when the four-decade-old Gambhira Bridge connecting Anand and Vadodara districts over Mahisagar River in Gujarat, collapsed, causing multiple vehicles on it to crash into the water.

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi told reporters, "Nine bodies have been recovered and six people have been rescued."

He said a high committee has been dispatched to the spot in the morning itself on the orders of the Gujarat chief minister and that he has sought a report at the earliest.

"Taking this very seriously, the CM has directed a team of Roads and Buildings Department and other teams to go there and take concrete measures," he added.

Gujarat minister Rushikesh Patel said the bridge was constructed in 1985, and its maintenance was carried out as and when required.

"The exact reason behind the incident will be probed," he said.

CM orders inquiry

In a post on X, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel called the incident "unfortunate" and said he has instructed the Vadodara Collector to ensure immediate treatment of the injured while launching an inquiry into the incident.

"The incident caused by the collapse of one of the 23 spans of the Zamir bridge connecting Anand and Vadodara is unfortunate. I pray for the peace of the souls of the deceased who lost their lives in the incident. I have instructed to prioritise the arrangement for immediate medical treatment for the injured by discussing with the Vadodara collector," he said in a long post in Gujarati.

"The local municipality and the Vadodara municipal corporation's fire brigade team are working at the accident site with boats and divers for rescue operations, and an NDRF team has also reached the scene to join in the rescue efforts. I have given immediate orders for an inquiry into this incident to the road construction department. For this, the Chief Engineer - Design and the Chief Engineer - South Gujarat, along with a team of two other private engineers specialised in bridge construction, have been instructed to reach the site immediately to conduct a preliminary investigation into the reasons for the bridge collapse and other technical matters," he added.

Four rescued

Earlier Padra police inspector Vijay Charan told PTI that four persons have been rescued so far and the operation is still underway.

The incident reportedly took place at 7.30 am, near Mujpur village in Padra taluka – a vital link between central Gujarat and Saurashtra.

"Around four vehicles fell into the river after a portion of the bridge on the Mahisagar river collapsed around 7.30 am. The vehicles, including two trucks and two vans, fell into the river. We have rescued four persons so far," Charan said.

According to local reports, two trucks, a pickup van, and a motorcycle fell into the river following the bridge’s collapse. Rescue operations are underway with local fire brigade teams and emergency services. Efforts are focused on retrieving the vehicles and checking for any trapped occupants inside them.

While the local administration is present at the spot, authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse.

Reports said that initial investigations suggest that the bridge had been experiencing structural issues, with significant potholes forming during the monsoon season. This had been reportedly addressed with temporary repairs. However, the exact cause of the collapse remains under investigation.

Medical Officer Rahul Singh said, "A total of 5 patients came here and they have been referred. So far, we have received 10 bodies here..."

Key infrastructure structure

The Gambhira Bridge is a key infrastructure structure, which helps in movement of goods and passengers between Anand and Vadodara. The collapse has not only resulted in loss of life but has also caused significant traffic disruptions.

Authorities are working to clear the wreckage and restore normalcy.