Bridge Collapse In Vadodara: Multiple Vehicles Plunge Into River, 9 Dead

In a tragic incident early Tuesday morning, a section of the decades-old Gambhira bridge collapsed over the Mahisagar river in Gujarat's Vadodara district, sending four vehicles plunging into the water below. Initial reports suggested that three people died in the accident, but now the toll has been updated to 9. Several others got injured and were rescued in a critical situation by locals and emergency services officers.

The collapse occurred around 7:30 am near Mujpur village, along a busy state highway. Two trucks, a Bolero, and another jeep were crossing the bridge when it suddenly gave way. Eyewitnesses say the vehicles fell on either side of the broken structure into the fast-moving river.

The saddening incident of the bridge collapse in Vadodara happened only a day after a similar incident that took place in Jhunjhunu.

Villagers from Mujpur and surrounding areas were among the first to respond, rushing to the scene and entering the river to help pull survivors from the submerged vehicles. Emergency teams, including ambulances and divers, soon joined the effort. Four people were rescued, while search operations are ongoing for anyone still missing.

As the news spread, grief quickly turned to outrage. Locals accused the authorities of ignoring repeated warnings about the deteriorating condition of the 45-year-old bridge. "We had raised complaints many times, but no one took action," said a resident, pointing to visible cracks and rusted joints that had gone unrepaired for years.

Officials, including Padra Mamlatdar and senior police officers, arrived shortly after to supervise rescue efforts and launch an investigation. Divers continue to scour the riverbed, while cranes attempt to retrieve the wreckage.

The bridge, which connected Padra to Anand district, had long been considered unsafe for heavy traffic. Its collapse has prompted renewed demands for accountability and urgent infrastructure inspections across Gujarat to prevent such avoidable disasters in the future.