On the morning of July 9, 2025, a span of the Gambhira Bridge over the Mahisagar River—part of the Padra–Mujpur route—collapsed suddenly around 7:30 AM. The bridge, built in 1985, served as a vital link between Anand and Vadodara districts, connecting Central Gujarat with Saurashtra.
The Human Toll
Multiple vehicles – including two trucks, an SUV, a pickup van, an ambulance, and at least one autorickshaw and an Eeco van – were on the bridge when it gave way. So far, 10 to 11 people have lost their lives, and 5–6 others have been injured or rescued . Among the victims were a family from Dariyapura village; their van’s sole survivor is Sonal Padhiyar, who tragically lost her husband and two young children.
Dramatic Rescue Efforts
Local authorities, the fire brigade, police, and NDRF/SDRF units responded swiftly. Rescuers used boats and diving teams to recover bodies and pull survivors from the river . Survivors’ accounts describe a sudden collapse marked by a loud crack:
“The truck just fell into the water… someone came and pulled me out in a boat”
One haunting video even captured a woman crying for her missing son from an overturned van.
Infrastructure Under Scrutiny
The 43‑year‑old structure was locally notorious—not only for traffic concerns but also as a suicide point—and had long been flagged for deterioration. In 2017, opposition parties staged protests, pleading for heavy vehicle restrictions. Now, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the Roads & Buildings Department have launched a technical investigation into the collapse
Political Fallout
The tragedy has sparked political outrage:
- Opposition parties (Congress and AAP) accuse the BJP-led state government of negligence and point to ignored warnings
- The Prime Minister’s Office, speaking for PM Modi, called the incident “deeply saddening” and announced ex-gratia payments of ₹2 lakh for the deceased and ₹50,000 for injured victims
Ripple Effects
With this key shortcut destroyed, commuters between South Gujarat and Saurashtra now face a 50 km-plus detour via Vasad, pressing extra strain on regional roads and potentially causing traffic jams
A Troubling Pattern
The Gambhira collapse tragically follows other recent infrastructure failures in India—the Morbi suspension bridge in 2022 took 132 lives, and government data shows over 2,000 bridges collapsed between 1977–2017, largely due to neglect, damage, and natural wear
🕯️ In Summary:
A long-neglected but crucial 40-year-old bridge in Vadodara gave way during peak hours, resulting in major loss of life, stirred urgent rescue operations, triggered political blame, and exposed ongoing systemic shortcomings in infrastructure upkeep across India.