Rescue operation underway after several vehicles fell into the Mahisagar river when a portion of a four-decade-old bridge collapsed, in Gujarat’s Vadodara district, Wednesday
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A portion of a bridge built over Mahisagar (Mahi) river in Gujarat collapsed on Tuesday, killing at least 10 people and injuring 5 others. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced compensation for the families of the victims.
The incident happened in the morning , when a portion of the “Gambhira” bridge connecting Anand and Vadodara districts gave way. Some of the vehicles plying on the bridge fell into the river. Of those killed, three including two children, belonged to the same family, data shared by the State government stated. Two trucks, one pick-up van, one Maruti Eco and one autorickshaw were among the vehicles that plunged into the river. Two other vehicles hung from the collapsed bridge.
Officials said that three people, travelling on a bike that fell into the river, swam to safety. Meanwhile the authorities diverted the traffic after the accident. The Gujarat government has directed its Roads and Buildings department to conduct an inquiry into the accident. A team of officials and experts including Chief Engineer-Design and Chief Engineer-south Gujarat have been sent to the spot to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the causes that led to the collapse.
Expressing grief, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel took to social media and said that the kin of each deceased will get a compensation of ₹4 lakh, while the injured will be given ₹50,000 each. This will be in addition to the compensation announced by PM Modi which includes an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh to the kin of each of those killed and ₹50,000 to each injured.
The accident happened just days after Chief Minister Patel held a high-level meeting in the State capital Gandhinagar and directed R&B department to immediately repair the damages caused by monsoons to highways, rural and urban roads in the State. During the meeting on Monday it was informed that 243 bridges across the State were undergoing repairs. The CM also told the officials that “road and bridge repairs, including pathwork, should not be delayed, awaiting end of rainfall.” He also directed that the concerned superintendent, executive or deputy engineer should immediately visit a site whenever information about a damaged road or a bridge is received by the 24×7 control room operating at Nirman Bhavan at Gandhinagar.
The bridge collapse on Mahisagar river on Tuesday comes just less than three years after a pedestrian suspension bridge on river Machhu in Morbi district collapsed killing 141 persons.
Published on July 9, 2025