Vadodara bridge collapse: Search operation continues for fourth day; death toll rises to 20
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Vadodara bridge collapse: Search operation continues for fourth day; death toll rises to 20
Search-and-rescue operations resume at the Mahisagar bridge collapse site. The death toll rose to 20 by Friday (July 11, 2025) evening. The next phase of operations will involve removing the collapsed bridge’s main slab and recover the missing person’s body. The Gujarat Pollution Control Board will also be engaged to safely retrieve the submerged tanker carrying sulphuric acid from the river. The four-decade-old bridge connecting Anand and Vadodara districts collapsed near Gambhira village, close to Padra town, on the morning of July 9. State Minister Rushikesh Patel cited structural failure — specifically the crushing of pedestals and articulation joints — as the primary cause for collapse. The state government has already suspended four officials from the R&B Department on Thursday (July 10, 2025). “Wherever lapses have come to light, action has been taken,” he added.
Officials stated that, in addition to searching for the missing individual, they would also work on removing the collapsed bridge’s main slab and submerged vehicles from the river.
Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and other agencies, along with residents, are involved in the operation.
Earlier, District Collector Anil Dhameliya stated that the next phase of operations on Saturday (July 12, 2025) would involve a technical team to remove the collapsed bridge’s main slab and recover the missing person’s body. He added that the Gujarat Pollution Control Board would also be engaged to safely retrieve the submerged tanker carrying sulphuric acid from the river.
Structural failure, ignored warnings: Why Vadodara’s bridge collapsed
“A tanker, which plunged into the river during the collapse, was transporting sulphuric acid, and precautions are being taken to prevent any leakage. The soda ash has also been causing skin irritation and itching among rescue workers,” told The Hindu.
Several vehicles fell into the river after a portion of the four-decade-old bridge connecting Anand and Vadodara districts collapsed near Gambhira village, close to Padra town, on the morning of July 9.
The Gambhira Bridge, spanning the Mahisagar River, serves as a vital link between central Gujarat and the Saurashtra region. Its construction commenced in 1981, and it was officially opened to the public in 1985. However, due to concerns over its deteriorating condition, the Congress party called for a ban on heavy vehicles using the bridge in 2017. It is an 830-metre-long bridge with 23 spans.
Additionally, many commuters and especially heavy vehicles prefer this route to bypass tolls on the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway, while also cutting travel distance by 30–35 kilometres to save fuel. With the bridge now closed, the only way to reach Saurashtra from South Gujarat will be Vasad — 50 kilometres extra.
State Minister Rushikesh Patel cited structural failure — specifically the crushing of pedestals and articulation joints — as the primary cause for collapse.
During his visit to the accident site, Mr. Patel said that the high-level probe was ordered by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and is being conducted by the Roads and Buildings Department. “As per the committee’s initial findings, the collapse occurred due to pedestal and articulation crushing,” he said.
The Minister further informed that the committee will submit a comprehensive report within 30 days, covering both technical and administrative aspects of the tragedy. “The report will be handed over to the Chief Minister, based on which further decisions will be taken,” Mr. Patel said.
In response to initial findings of negligence, the state government has already suspended four officials from the R&B Department on Thursday (July 10, 2025). “Wherever lapses have come to light, action has been taken. The government will not hesitate to take further necessary measures,” he added.
Residents of Bamangam and nearby villages have long urged authorities to construct a new bridge rather than repeatedly repairing the old one, according to government officials. In November 2024, the state government approved a proposal for a new bridge at an estimated cost of over ₹200 crore.
The issue gained traction after Vadodara district panchayat member Harshadsinh Parmar raised concerns about the Gambhira bridge’s deteriorating condition in 2022, leading to inspections. Following suggestions from BJP MLA Chaitanyasinh Zala, the Gujarat government had earlier greenlit plans for a new bridge, including a preliminary survey. However, instead of shutting down the existing structure, minor repairs were conducted, and the bridge remained open to traffic, locals said.
Gujarat bridge collapse: Toll rises to 20, search continues for missing man
The search and rescue operations resumed in the Mahisagar River in Gujarat’s Vadodara for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday. The toll in the tragedy rose to 20 on Friday after one more body was recovered from the river and another injured person died at the hospital while undergoing treatment. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has suspended four engineers of the state’s Roads and Buildings Department in connection with the bridge collapse. Several vehicles plunged into the river after a segment of the 40-year-old bridge near Gambhira village, connecting Anand and Vadadara districts, collapsed on Wednesday morning. A state minister had on Friday said the collapse was caused by the “crushing of pedestal and articulation joints” The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response force (SDRF) and other agencies are part of the rescue efforts.
The toll in the tragedy rose to 20 on Friday after one more body was recovered from the river and another injured person died at the hospital while undergoing treatment.
One more person is still missing, and efforts to find him resumed on Saturday, Vadodara collector Anil Dhameliya said.
Several vehicles plunged into the river after a segment of the 40-year-old bridge near Gambhira village, connecting Anand and Vadodara districts, collapsed on Wednesday morning.
The collector said another focus of the operation on Saturday will be to remove a large chunk of slab that has fallen into the river.
“In the next stage of our operation (on Saturday), we will take the help of a technical team to remove the main slab and retrieve the body of the missing person. The Gujarat Pollution Control Board will be roped in to safely extricate the tanker carrying sulphuric acid that has fallen into the river,” Dhameliya said.
Citing a preliminary probe report, a state minister had on Friday said the collapse was caused by the “crushing of pedestal and articulation joints”.
Rescuers have been working amid challenging conditions such as 3.5-metre-deep mud, release of soda ash in water and the presence of a tanker containing sulphuric acid.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and other agencies are part of the rescue efforts.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has suspended four engineers of the state’s Roads and Buildings Department in connection with the bridge collapse.
Minister Rushikesh Patel, who visited the site of the tragedy on Friday, said that the action was taken based on a preliminary report submitted by a committee set up by the chief minister.
A high-level probe committee of the state’s roads and buildings department will submit a detailed report in 30 days, he said.
Out of the 7,000 bridges in the state that have been surveyed, the government has identified those that need repairs or require the construction of new ones. Action is taken on them accordingly, he said after the visit.
Gujarat has witnessed six major incidents of bridge collapse since 2021.
In December 2021, a slab collapsed during the construction of the Mumatpura flyover on the outskirts of Ahmedabad city. Nobody was injured in the incident.
In October 2022, as many as 135 persons were killed when a British-era suspension bridge over the Machchhu River in Morbi town collapsed.
In June 2023, a newly built bridge on the Mindhola River in the Tapi district collapsed. No one was hurt in the accident.
In September 2023, four persons were injured after a portion of an old bridge on the Bhogavo River in Surendranagar district collapsed when a 40-tonne dumper was navigating it near Wadhwan city.
In October 2023, two persons sitting in an autorickshaw died after six concrete girders or slabs, which were installed on the pillars of an under-construction bridge near the RTO Circle in Palanpur town of Banaskantha, collapsed.
In August 2024, a small bridge on the Bhogavo River connecting Habiyasar village with Chotila town in Surendranagar district collapsed after a sudden rise in water following discharge from an overflowing dam. No casualties were reported in the incident. PTI
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Federal staff and is auto-published from a syndicated feed.)