Vadodara Bridge Collapse: Rescue operation continues for the third consecutive day, 18 people dead so far

On the morning of July 9, 2025, residents of Padra taluka in Gujarat were going about their daily routines when the unexpected collapse of the Gambhira Bridge—a vital concrete structure built in 1985 connecting Vadodara and Anand—sent shockwaves across the region. At approximately 7:30 AM, a 15–20‑meter segment of the 830‑meter bridge gave way, plunging multiple vehicles into the Mahisagar River below and instantly transforming a routine commute into a scene of tragedy The Times of India+15Wikipedia+15The Times of India+15.

The collapse occurred as the bridge was heavily trafficked, serving as a toll-free route preferred by long-haul trucks, tankers, and local commuters seeking an alternative to the main highway The Times of India. Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud cracking sound before seeing vehicles—a mix of trucks, vans, an auto‑rickshaw, and even motorcycles—hurtling 50–60 feet down into the rushing waters India Today+1The Times of India+1. In the chaos, a fuel tanker was left hanging precariously at the broken edge of the bridge, adding to the danger Scroll.in+14Financial Express+14India Today+14.

Initial rescue operations were swift. Local villagers, fire brigade teams, and the NDRF converged at the site, deploying boats, fire tenders, and heavy machinery to pull survivors from the river The Indian Express+6India Today+6The Times of India+6. By the end of that first day, authorities confirmed nine deaths and five injuries, with primary focus on saving individuals trapped beneath submerged vehicles Wikipedia+1India Today+1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and announced ex‑gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh for victims and ₹50,000 for the injured from the PM National Relief Fund The Times of India+5Financial Express+5Wikipedia+5. Simultaneously, the Gujarat Chief Minister ordered a formal inquiry and allocated state compensation of ₹4 lakh per deceased and ₹50,000 per injured individual ThePrint+3India Today+3Wikipedia+3.

In the days that followed, the tragedy deepened. Agencies recovered more bodies, raising the death toll to 13 by July 10 The Times of India+6Scroll.in+6The Week+6. Thirteen bodies had been pulled from the river when recovery teams contended with hazardous conditions: around 10 feet of thick mud beneath the surface, quicksand-like layers in the riverbed, and a tanker containing sulphuric acid trapped underwater ThePrint+1The Times of India+1. Rescue personnel even neutralized contamination in the water by introducing soda ash, an effort that caused skin irritation and discomfort among divers .

By July 11, the body count had risen to 18, with two individuals still missing The Times of India+3ThePrint+3The Times of India+3. Government officials, including District Collector Anil Dhameliya, reported that efforts were ongoing to extract bodies trapped under fallen slabs or within vehicles buried in the mud The Times of India+15ThePrint+15The Times of India+15. Army trucks helped haul submerged vehicles to safety on a makeshift bridge built beside the wreckage .

Later the same day, the toll increased to 19 after an injured victim succumbed to injuries at the hospital, though two individuals remained unaccounted for The Times of India. Vadodara’s officials maintained that the drive to locate and recover the missing continued amid increasingly difficult terrain and unpredictable weather .

Public outrage fueled by disturbing images of the tanker dangling over the broken deck and the apparent neglect of a bridge that had drawn repeated warnings from local activists added urgency. As early as 2022, activists and district officials had flagged the bridge’s deteriorating condition, but despite recurring cautions, no decisive preventive action was taken .

The political and administrative response has been swift. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel suspended four engineers from the Roads & Buildings Department pending inquiry The Week+1Wikipedia+1, while CM also ordered immediate inspections of all state bridges to prevent such disasters elsewhere ThePrint+1The Week+1. A technical probe was launched to investigate maintenance records, structural integrity assessments, and decision-making processes that allowed a critical structure to fail .

Beyond the immediate recovery efforts, the incident has ignited a broader debate on infrastructure governance, accountability, and safety oversight. Observers noted that this is the latest in a series of similar tragedies in Gujarat—citing the 2022 Morbi pedestrian bridge collapse and other structural failures—as evidence of recurring systemic flaws .

The human toll became starkly personal as reports emerged: among the victims were families traveling together, including children in tow. One survivor, Sonal Padhiyar, recounted with heartbreak how she alone survived while her husband, daughter, and two‑year‑old grandchild perished when their Eeco van plunged into the river Wikipedia+3The Indian Express+3Scroll.in+3.

By the third day, rescue teams had retrieved 18 bodies and located two vehicles still submerged—likely hiding other victims—while authorities continued to comb through debris and mud for clues . The recovery remains hazardous, with heavy equipment struggling in the muddy riverbed and toxic materials complicating efforts .

Although five survivors are stable in Vadodara hospitals, the tragedy has devastated many local families, especially those who lost multiple members in a single crash The Times of India+2The Indian Express+2The Times of India+2. For these individuals, the bridge was not just a passage, but a lifeline—one that tragically failed when they depended on it most.

Analysts are now questioning the very fabric of infrastructure management in Gujarat—and across India—where longevity, budget allocations, and political oversight often clash with maintenance responsibilities . As the country mourns, many are calling for policy reforms, stricter audit mechanisms, and genuine public participation in decisions regarding critical public assets.

On the ground, the rescue operation continues unabated. Army vehicles, cranes, and divers work around the clock. Tempted by hopes buried in quicksand, they painstakingly remove mud and concrete slabs to reach the unseen victims The Indian Express+1The Times of India+1. Only once the missing are accounted for can the priority shift to clearing the wreckage and rebuilding the vital link between Vadodara and Anand.

What began as a routine commute has transformed into a moment of national reckoning. The collapse of the Gambhira Bridge did more than cost lives—it cracked open longstanding questions about infrastructure vigilance and human resilience. Now, as the authorities act and the public watches, the real test will lie in whether this tragedy sparks lasting changes to ensure that no other life is placed at risk on unsafe foundations.

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