Fisherman Narendra Mali witnessed a tragic incident this morning while working near the Mahisagar river, close to the Gambhira bridge that connects Gujarat’s Vadodara and Anand districts. As he was preparing for the day’s catch, he and his companions were startled by unusual noises. Looking up, they saw a horrifying scene unfold — a section of the bridge had collapsed, sending vehicles plummeting into the river below.

Mali described the chaos as vehicles fell one after another into the water. Reacting swiftly, he and his fellow fishermen turned their boats towards the sinking vehicles to assist in rescue efforts. Among the vehicles that fell were two trucks, a car, a pick-up van, and several motorcycles. Tragically, eight people have been confirmed dead, with many others injured. Mali expressed sorrow that most passengers could not be saved.

Emergency response teams, including police and disaster relief personnel, are currently engaged in rescue operations. Of the eight fatalities reported so far, six have been identified: Vaidik Padiyar (45), Naitik Padiyar (45), Hasmukh Parmar (32), Ramesh Padiyar (32), Wakhasingh Jadhav (26), and Praveen Jadhav (26).

The Gambhira bridge collapse highlights severe administrative neglect. In operation since 1985, the bridge was known to be in poor condition. Despite recommendations from local BJP MLA Chaitanyasinh Zala for a new bridge, only repairs were made, allowing traffic to continue on the aging structure. Residents had previously reported that the bridge would vibrate under vehicle weight.

Following this tragedy, questions have arisen about why authorities did not close the deteriorating bridge sooner to prevent such loss of life.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident, offering condolences to affected families and announcing financial aid of Rs. 2 lakh for each deceased’s next of kin and Rs. 50,000 for the injured from the PMNRF. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel echoed these sentiments and pledged additional state assistance of Rs. 4 lakh for each victim’s family and Rs. 50,000 for those injured.

Vadodara Collector Anil Dhamelia stated that immediate priorities include rescuing survivors and recovering bodies and vehicles from the river. Traffic has been diverted to ensure safety.

The Opposition Congress criticized the state government, alleging corruption within infrastructure projects and questioning the integrity of what they termed the “Gujarat Model.” They extended condolences to victims’ families and called for accountability in preventing future tragedies.