Gujarat Bridge Collapse: Death Toll Rises to 10, Extensive Rescue Operations Continue
VADODARA, Gujarat—July 9, 2025: Ten dead bodies have been found this morning after part of the Gambhira Bridge over the River Mahisagar in Gujarat’s Vadodara district came down today. The news, which came in at about 7:30 am, also declared that at least six other persons had suffered injuries after falling into the river along with multiple vehicles.
Rescue Operations Step Up
The draft portion of the link in Padra-Mujpur, an important roadway connecting Central Gujarat with Saurashtra, gave way, as a result of which a truck, a van, and an automobile landed in the water body. Local residents are the first to rescue those who ask for help through emergency services. Police, fire brigade teams, and disaster response units, including two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), immediately launched extensive rescue operations. Recovery continues to ensure that no one else was trapped and that any submerged vehicles are retrieved.
Official Response and Compensation
He has expressed deep grief over the loss of lives, announcing an ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of the deceased, along with Rs. 50,000 for the injured. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has briefed the Prime Minister on the circumstances and has ordered a full inquiry into the incident of collapse. The Gujarat government announces another package of Rs 4 lakh for the deceased family members and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Prior Warnings and Investigation
Constructed in 1985, the Gambhira Bridge had reportedly been the subject of previous concerns about its structural stability. One Vadodara District Panchayat member had raised the issue of the bridge being dilapidated through a letter in an August 2022 letter to authorities. A truck driver reported that the bridge vibrated whenever vehicles passed. Although some officials say that maintenance work had just been conducted, its specific cause is still under investigation as technical experts have been dispatched to the site. This follows an incident earlier reported high in the Morbi suspension bridge collapse that occurred in that vein, where 141 died in October 2022, thus exacerbating an already interesting concern in the state regarding overall safety in infrastructure.
