On the morning of July 9, 2025, the Gambhira Bridge of Gujarat connecting Anand and Vadodara collapsed midway—the disruption of the bridge plunged at least four vehicles into the river below. As soon as the incident occurred, villagers rushed to the site to help victims struggling in the water. Vehicles that fell into the water include a passenger car, a truck, and two motorbikes. Emergency teams rushed to the spot as soon as the bridge collapsed. Local police, NDRF, and fire crews quickly began rescue work. Their swift action helped save several lives, but sadly, two people died at the scene. The bridge collapsed over the Mahisagar River around 7:30 am. The exact cause is still under investigation.
Casualties Confirmed: Two Dead, One Missing
Authorities have also identified the deceased as a 38-year-old truck driver and a 25-year-old motorcyclist. Rescue teams found the bodies in the submerged wreckage after searching for several hours. Additionally, other people who sustained injuries are currently receiving treatment at a district hospital. One person is reported missing, and the rescue team is actively searching for them.
Officials have expressed their condolences and assured support to the families of the victims. The Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office has announced an ex gratia of Rs. 4 Lakhs for the families of the deceased. Additionally, the government has also ensured support through the medical expenses of the injured.
Government Response
Just a day after the accident, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel held an emergency press conference and promised a full investigation. He made it clear that the government will look into any negligence, whether in the structural survey, maintenance work, or actions by the contractor.
A team of senior officials is now investigating the reasons behind the bridge collapse. They will submit a preliminary report within 72 hours. The state government has also suspended two PWD engineers while the inquiry is ongoing. All old bridges in the state will be inspected by an independent third party.
The tragedy has ignited political rhetoric throughout the state and the country. Opposition leaders have faulted the BJP-led state government for not placing infrastructure safety above other issues despite multiple warnings. Congress leaders demanded accountability not just from bureaucrats but also from contractors and top officials who approve old buildings.
Wider Political Fallout and Public Outrage
People took to social media to show outrage and dismay at the loss of lives due to a preventable mishap. Most called for tougher laws governing infrastructure inspections and quicker execution of bridge modernization projects. #BridgeCollapse and #GujaratTragedy were trending on all platforms.
The collapse of the Gambhira bridge is not an isolated case in India. In recent years, an increasing number of bridges have collapsed in India, including the Aguwani-Sultanganj collapse in Bihar, as well as the Morbi incident. Unlike the other failures mentioned here, it is foreseeable that the incident caused people to reflect on more systemic issues related to infrastructure management. Outdated designs, corrupt contract practices, and delayed maintenance continue to put lives at risk.
Management experts say that India undoubtedly must have a national audit of all old infrastructural facilities by modern engineering tools. Such tools include drones, structural health monitoring systems, and AI. More importantly, the accountability mechanism must be transparent and binding in law so that such disasters may be averted forever.
End Note
The collapse of the Gambhira Bridge has once again highlighted the significant neglect of our infrastructure. While families grieve the loss of their loved ones, the state must act swiftly and conduct a comprehensive investigation and take immediate steps to prevent tragedies like this from happening again. Timely inspections, reassessments of technology, transparency, and accountability are no longer elective matters as they are now imperative matters. Bridges and highways should be ways for people to connect, not reminders of grief and tragic loss.
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