Officials reported that at least three individuals died and five others were rescued after multiple vehicles plunged into a river when part of the four-decade-old Gambhira Bridge near Mujpur in Gujarat’s Vadodara district collapsed on Wednesday morning.
The incident occured suddenly, sending two trucks, a pickup van, and another automobile crashing into the overflowing river beneath. In just moments, chaos unfolded as villagers hurried to the location, trailed by police and rescue personnel.
Five to six vehicles plunged into the Mahisagar River after a section of the Gambhira Bridge, which links central Gujarat and Saurashtra regions of the state, fell apart, stated Gujarat’s Health Minister Rushikesh Patel.
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NDRF teams at the Site for Rescue Ops
Vadodara Collector Anil Dhameliya stated that rescue operations commenced earlier in the day, with nearby swimmers, boats, and a crew from the Municipal Corporation quickly reaching the location.
He stated that teams from the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC), Emergency Response Centre, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with various administrative and police units, were all on-site.
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Bridge was constructed in 1985
The Gambhira Bridge had remained in a perilous state of neglect for a long time. Residents had consistently voiced concerns about its deteriorating state and requested immediate repairs or a replacement building, yet their alerts were ignored.
Nonetheless, Health Minister Rushikesh Patel stated that the bridge was built in 1985 and that its upkeep was done periodically, as needed.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has instructed technical specialists to arrive at the location and investigate the reason for the collapse, he stated.
