Gujarat's Gambhira Bridge Collapse: Nine Dead, Nine Rescued; Connectivity Between Anand And Vadodara Disrupted

(Photo : ANI)

Nine, including a child, were killed and nine others were rescued after a portion of a bridge collapsed in Gujarat's Vadodara district on Wednesday morning, police said. 

"Nine persons, including a child, were killed and nine others rescued after a portion of a four-decade-old bridge collapsed in Gujarat's Vadodara district on Wednesday morning," PTI reported.

#WATCH | Vadodara, Gujarat | The Gambhira bridge on the Mahisagar river, connecting Vadodara and Anand, collapses in Padra; local administration present at the spot. pic.twitter.com/7JlI2PQJJk

— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2025

The bridge, which connects the Anand and Vadodara districts, gave way during peak morning traffic hours, resulting in fatalities and injuries to three others. The accident has interrupted road connections between Anand and Vadodara, affecting vehicle travel along that route.

According to initial reports, four vehicles, including two trucks, an SUV, and a pickup van, were crossing the bridge when it suddenly crumbled.

Eyewitnesses said a loud cracking noise was heard moments before the vehicles dropped into the river. Fire brigade teams, local police, and members of the Vadodara district administration rushed to the spot and launched immediate rescue operations.

Locals also joined in, helping to extract the injured from the wreckage. So far, three people have been rescued and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Padra MLA Chaitanyasinh Zala visited the site shortly after the incident.

Authorities have cordoned off the area to prevent further accidents and initiated a probe into the cause of the collapse.

Locals allege that the bridge, a key artery linking Central Gujarat to Saurashtra and vital for commuters between Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, and Ankleshwar, had long been neglected by the administration.

“The Gambhira bridge has become notorious not just as a traffic hazard but also as a suicide point. Repeated warnings about its condition were ignored,” said one resident.

Senior Congress leader Amit Chavda posted on social media: "The main Gambhira bridge connecting Anand and Vadodara districts has collapsed. Many vehicles have fallen into the river, and major casualties are feared. The administration must immediately carry out rescue operations and arrange alternate routes for traffic."

Drivers were continuing to search the river for any missing persons, and cranes had been brought in to retrieve the submerged vehicles.

A detailed technical inspection and safety audit of similar structures in the region is expected to follow.

(With IANS Inputs)