Tragedy in Gujarat: Gambhira Bridge Collapses, Claims 9 Lives, Many Injured

National News: A major infrastructure disaster struck Gujarat on Tuesday morning when the Gambhira bridge, connecting Vadodara and Anand, collapsed into the Mahisagar river, plunging multiple vehicles into the water below. The tragic accident resulted in nine confirmed fatalities, while several others sustained serious injuries. The incident has sent shockwaves through the region, sparking public outcry and political uproar.

Bridge Crumbles, Vehicles Submerged, Lives Lost

Eyewitnesses reported that 4 to 5 vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the collapse. The central portion of the structure suddenly gave way, sending the vehicles plummeting into the fast-flowing river. Emergency response teams, including fire brigades and disaster management personnel, launched a swift rescue operation. Three individuals were successfully pulled out alive, but tragically, three others succumbed to their injuries. 

#WATCH | Vadodara, Gujarat | The Gambhira bridge on the Mahisagar river, connecting Vadodara and Anand, collapses in Padra; local administration present at the spot. pic.twitter.com/7JlI2PQJJk

— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2025

Massive Disruption: 40 km Detour for Commuters

The bridge collapse has caused severe transportation disruption, with traffic between Vadodara and Anand coming to a complete halt. Long queues of stranded vehicles were seen on both sides of the river. Authorities have diverted traffic to alternate routes, but commuters now face an arduous 40-kilometer detour, causing delays and widespread inconvenience.

Political Firestorm: Opposition Targets Government

The incident has quickly escalated into a political flashpoint, with the Leader of the Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly, Amit Chavda, accusing the government of negligence. Sharing a video of the bridge collapse on social media, Chavda stated, “The Gambhira bridge had been in a dangerously dilapidated condition for years. Numerous complaints and warnings were ignored by the administration. This tragedy is the result of that inaction.”

Government Responds: Investigation Underway

In response to the disaster, the Gujarat state government dispatched teams of engineers, medical personnel, and disaster response units to the site. While the exact cause of the collapse remains under investigation, officials have begun reviewing the structural integrity reports, maintenance records, and recent inspection data of the bridge.

આણંદ અને વડોદરા જિલ્લાને જોડતો મુખ્ય ગંભીરા બ્રીજ તૂટી પડ્યો છે.અનેક વાહનો નદીમાં પડતા મોટી જાનહાનિ થઈ હોવાની શક્યતા છે. સરકારી તંત્ર તાત્કાલિક બચાવ કામગીરી હાથ ધરે અને ટ્રાફિક માટે વૈકલ્પિક વ્યવસ્થા કરવામાં આવે.@CMOGuj @dgpgujarat @Bhupendrapbjp @sanghaviharsh @CollectorAnd pic.twitter.com/Xn1vIB9QEs

— Amit Chavda (@AmitChavdaINC) July 9, 2025

A Wake-Up Call on Infrastructure Safety

This catastrophe has once again highlighted the urgent need for robust infrastructure audits and preventive maintenance across the country. Despite repeated warnings from local residents and public representatives, administrative apathy appears to have prevailed—leading to a disaster that many believe could have been prevented.

As recovery operations continue and a formal probe gets underway, questions are being raised not only about this bridge but also about the safety of similar aging structures across India. The tragedy of the Gambhira bridge serves as a grim reminder of the human cost of infrastructural neglect.