On July 9, 2025, a tragic incident unfolded in Gujarat when a portion of the 40-year-old Gambhira Bridge collapsed, causing several vehicles to fall into the Mahisagar River. The bridge, which connected Mujpur and Gambhira villages in the Vadodara district, gave way around 7:30 AM, leading to the deaths of at least 13 people, including two children.
Eyewitnesses reported that six vehicles, including trucks, a pickup van, a seven-seater car, and an autorickshaw, were on the bridge at the time of collapse. A tanker truck was also seen precariously hanging at the edge before it was secured.
Local villagers were the first to initiate rescue efforts, which were soon joined by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), fire brigades, and police personnel. Several injured individuals were taken to the Sir Sayajirao General Hospital in Vadodara, where at least five people were reported to be in critical condition.
The Gambhira Bridge, built in 1985, had long been under scrutiny. Government records reveal that officials had raised structural safety concerns as early as 2021. A 2022 inspection even declared the bridge unfit for use, yet no substantial action was taken to either restrict traffic or initiate repairs. The bridge was a vital route for heavy vehicles, as it offered a bypass to toll roads, making it a heavily trafficked structure despite its deteriorating condition.
In response to the collapse, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel ordered an immediate investigation and directed rescue agencies to provide full support. The state government announced an ex-gratia of ₹4 lakh to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu also expressed their condolences and sanctioned additional compensation from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
This incident echoes past infrastructure failures in the state, including the Morbi bridge collapse of 2022, and raises serious concerns about the condition and oversight of aging public structures. Calls for more rigorous audits and immediate action on flagged infrastructure have intensified in the wake of this disaster.
