How Many More? Gujarat’s Latest Bridge Collapse Kills 9, Revives Painful Memories of Morbi Tragedy
Gujarat Bridge Collapse: At least nine people died and nine others were rescued after a 43-year-old Gambhira bridge collapsed in Gujarat’s Vadodara district early Wednesday. The bridge, located in Mujpur in Padra taluka, connected Mujpur to Gambhira in Anand district and served as a key link between central Gujarat and Saurashtra. The collapse caused multiple vehicles, including two trucks, an Eeco van, a pickup van, and an autorickshaw, to fall into the Mahisagar River.
Videos from the scene show a tanker hanging precariously from the broken bridge. In one clip, a woman is heard crying for help for her son, who was reportedly trapped in the overturned Eeco van.
Rescue teams from Vadodara’s fire and emergency services and the NDRF were dispatched immediately. Deep water divers from the NDRF’s Vadodara 6BN unit assisted in the rescue operation.
The Indian Express quoted Vadodara District Collector Anil Dhameliya as saying, “We have rescued five people with simple injuries, and two have been confirmed dead. While the rescue operation is ongoing, we know that two trucks, an Eeco van, a pickup van, and an autorickshaw plunged into the river when a portion of the bridge gave way suddenly.”
The injured were taken to a local hospital. Of the five rescued, four had only minor injuries.
Bridge Was Repaired Last Year
Vadodara District Collector added, “The bridge, which is 43 years old, had been repaired last year. Executive engineers from the Roads and Buildings Department are on their way to the site. We will examine the details once the rescue work is complete.”
Anand District Collector Praveen Chaudhary said, “The Anand district administration and police are present to manage the situation on the other side of the bridge and provide support.” Three fire tenders were also sent from Anand.
Ankhlav Congress MLA Amit Chavda posted on X, “Several vehicles have fallen into the river and big casualties are feared. The government administration must undertake immediate rescue and divert traffic accordingly.”
A government press release from August 2024 stated that 42 major and minor bridges had collapsed between 2019 and 2024, as reported by The Economic Times. Bridge collapses are not rare happenings in India. A 2020 study published in the International Journal of Structure and Infrastructure Engineering found that 2,130 bridges collapsed over a 40-year period. The primary causes were natural disasters (80.3%), material deterioration (10.1%), and overloading (3.28%).
The Shadow of Morbi
A similar tragedy unfolded on October 31, 2022, in Morbi, Gujarat. A suspension bridge over the Machchhu River snapped under the weight of 200 to 250 people, killing 135, including 54 children. The bridge had been reopened just a week earlier, on October 24, after repairs by Oreva Group. Alleged structural failure led to the collapse. To date, no replacement bridge has been constructed at the site.
Times of India quoted Pankaj Amrutia, who lost four family members in the Morbi collapse: “My workplace is in the Samakantha locality, and every time I pass the site of the bridge, I cannot control my emotions. I often burst into tears.” The Morbi case is still under trial. Two years later, charges are yet to be framed. The accused, including Oreva Group Managing Director Jaysukh Patel, are out on bail. The Supreme Court recently modified Patel’s bail terms, allowing him to enter Morbi district.
These are not isolated accidents. They keep happening due to negligence, unclear contracts, delayed justice, and poor safety planning. Until government officials, private contractors, and regulators are held truly accountable, and infrastructure safety is treated as a matter of saving lives rather than ticking boxes, such preventable tragedies will continue. Accountability must come first, not later, if we want to protect people.
