Bridge Collapse in Vadodara Kills 8, Vehicles Submerged
Teams from the Vadodara fire department, along with local residents, quickly mobilized to join the rescue efforts following the tragic bridge collapse in Vadodara. Despite challenging conditions, they displayed immense bravery and dedication, providing immediate relief and assistance to those affected by the incident.
Eight Killed, Several Rescued After Bridge Collapses in Vadodara
Vadodara, Gujarat:
vehicles plunging into the Mahisagar river below. The disaster has left eight people dead and five others rescued with serious injuries, officials confirmed.
On this tragic morning, two trucks and two vans were among the vehicles that fell when a large slab between two piers suddenly gave way, leaving nothing but a gaping.
“Eight persons lost their lives in the incident,” he said solemnly, as rescue teams continued their efforts amidst the debris and strong river currents.
Vijay Charan, inspector at Padra Police Station, added that five survivors were pulled out of the water and are currently undergoing treatment at nearby hospitals.
What followed the collapse was a desperate rush to save lives. Teams from the Vadodara fire department arrived swiftly, supported by courageous local residents who didn’t hesitate to jump into the murky waters to assist in the rescue. “People just rushed in when they saw the vehicles submerged,” one eyewitness recalled. “It didn’t matter who they were — everyone became a rescuer.”
In the hours that followed, a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also joined the operation, bringing in boats, divers, and equipment to assist with the difficult task of pulling wreckage and bodies from the riverbed. “Time is of the essence in such incidents,” an NDRF official said.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed his grief over the tragic loss of life and directed technical experts to conduct a detailed probe into the cause of the collapse. “This is a serious matter. We cannot afford to lose lives due to infrastructure failure,” he said.
State minister Rushikesh Patel also visited the site and acknowledged that while the bridge was built in 1985, maintenance had been carried out “periodically as and when required.” However, he admitted that the exact reason for the collapse would be known only after a thorough technical investigation.
The collapse has shaken the local community. For the families of the deceased, the morning began like any other — school runs, supply deliveries, work commutes — only to be shattered by a tragedy they could never have imagined.
Among the dead were reportedly a truck driver making a routine delivery to the Saurashtra region, and a young man commuting for a job interview in Vadodara. Their names are yet to be officially released, pending notification of families. Local NGOs and volunteers gathered near the site to provide water, food, and emotional support to the grieving relatives and rescue workers.
Visuals from the scene showed the collapsed segment of the bridge — a deep void where concrete once connected two busy regions. Search efforts were continuing as of late Wednesday evening, with divers scouring the murky waters for any more victims.
The Gambhira bridge, once a symbol of engineering progress, now lies broken — a grim reminder of how quickly life can change. Questions are being raised about the inspection and safety protocols followed for aging infrastructure, especially as India enters the monsoon season, when such structures face increased stress from heavy rainfall.
For now, Vadodara mourns its dead, prays for its injured, and waits — for answers, for accountability, and for healing.