Gambhira Bridge Collapse: Nine Killed As Vehicles Fall Into River In Gujarat's Vadodara

At least nine people died and five were rescued on Wednesday morning (9 July) after a section of the four-decade-old Gambhira Bridge near Mujpur collapsed in Gujarat’s Vadodara district, reported The New Indian Express.

The collapse sent two trucks, a pickup van, and another vehicle plunging into the swollen Mahisagar River, triggering panic as villagers, police, and rescue teams scrambled to respond.

According to Gujarat's Health Minister Rushikesh Patel, five to six vehicles fell into the Mahisagar River after a slab of the Gambhira Bridge, located on the river that connects the central Gujarat and Saurashtra regions of the state, collapsed.

The Gambhira Bridge, which connects Anand and Vadodara, had long shown signs of dangerous disrepair.

According to the TNIE report, Locals had repeatedly warned authorities about its crumbling condition and urged urgent repairs or a replacement, but officials failed to act in time.

The collapse has now severed a vital route linking key districts such as Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, and Ankleshwar to Saurashtra, disrupting regional transport and trade.

However, Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said the bridge was constructed in 1985 and that its maintenance was carried out periodically, as and when required.

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

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has ordered technical experts to investigate the collapse, while the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed a team with rescue equipment to the site.

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