Gujarat Bridge Collapse: 11 Dead, Multiple Vehicles Fall into Mahisagar River

 At least 11 people were killed and nine others injured after a portion of a 43-year-old bridge collapsed over the Mahisagar River in Gujarat’s Vadodara district on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred at the Mujpur-Gambhira crossing in Padra taluka, sending several vehicles plunging into the river and triggering a large-scale rescue operation.

According to the Vadodara police and district authorities, the collapsed bridge connected Mujpur in Vadodara with Gambhira in the adjoining Anand district. It served as a critical transit link between Central Gujarat and the Saurashtra region. The structure, built in 1982 and reportedly repaired in 2024, failed suddenly around 6:30 a.m., causing a section to give way under the weight of moving vehicles.

Eyewitness accounts and video footage captured the immediate aftermath of the collapse. A tanker truck was seen hanging precariously from the broken edge of the bridge, while other vehicles, including two trucks, an Eeco van, a pickup van, an autorickshaw, and possibly two motorcycles, had already fallen into the river. Heavy rains in the region over the past few days may have impacted the substructure, although officials have yet to confirm a cause.

Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Vadodara’s fire and emergency services were deployed rapidly to the scene. Divers were mobilized to search the river, which is shallow at the collapse site but still posed challenges due to submerged vehicles and debris.

Rohan Anand, Superintendent of Police, Vadodara, confirmed that a case of accidental death has been registered. He said that a formal probe would begin once rescue operations conclude. “We are focusing on recovering the bodies and identifying those who are missing. Once the rescue work ends, we will begin collecting technical reports and eyewitness testimonies,” he said.

Casualties and Injured Identified

Among the 11 confirmed dead were three members of the same family: Ramesh Padhiyar, Vedika Padhiyar, and their child Naitaik Padhiyar from Dariyapura village. Others who lost their lives include Hasmukh Parmar (Majatan), Vakhatsinh Jadav (Kahanva), and Pravin Jadav (Undel).

The survivors include Sonal Padhiyar, who lost her husband and two children in the collapse. She was the only person rescued alive from the seven occupants of the Eeco van. Others injured and hospitalized include Narendra Parmar (Dahevan), Dilip Padhiyar (Nani Sherdi), and Rajesh Chavda (Devapura). A resident of Rajasthan and four more injured persons are yet to be fully identified.

Victims were taken to the Padra Referral Hospital for autopsy and treatment. The local administration confirmed that most injured individuals were in stable condition as of late afternoon.

Eyewitness Accounts

A truck driver traveling from Dwarka to Ankleshwar survived the fall and later recounted that the vehicle dropped suddenly into the river. He escaped through his side of the truck and waited in the water until rescue teams arrived by boat. He noted that several other vehicles were in close proximity when the bridge gave way. Footage from the scene also showed a woman trapped in the river, desperately calling for help as her child remained stuck inside an overturned Eeco van.

Administrative Response

Vadodara District Collector Anil Dhameliya confirmed that the bridge underwent repairs in 2024. He said a technical assessment would be conducted by the Roads and Buildings Department after the rescue operations end. “We have already sent executive engineers to the site. All maintenance records will be reviewed to determine the cause,” Dhameliya said.

Anand District Collector Praveen Chaudhary confirmed that three fire tenders from the district were assisting on the opposite bank of the bridge. “We are in coordination with Vadodara district to support rescue operations and control crowd movement,” he added.

Anklav Congress MLA Amit Chavda, whose constituency lies nearby, issued a statement on social media urging immediate government action and diversion of traffic from the affected route. “Several vehicles have fallen into the river, and big casualties are feared… Traffic management and quick action is critical,” he posted.

Structural Background and Past Incidents

The bridge, built in 1982, had reportedly undergone repairs last year. Whether the work was superficial or involved deeper structural retrofitting remains unclear. Authorities have not disclosed the scope of those repairs or the contractors involved.

The collapse comes less than three years after the fatal Morbi cable bridge disaster in the same state, where 132 people were killed when a suspension bridge collapsed in October 2022. That structure, too, had been recently repaired by a private firm before the failure occurred.

This latest incident adds to a concerning pattern of aging or poorly maintained bridge infrastructure in India failing under pressure. In the first half of 2025 alone, at least three bridge collapses have been reported across the country, with growing demands for a nationwide audit of aging infrastructure.

Investigation and Accountability

Authorities in Gujarat have indicated that a formal inquiry will be launched under the district administration. Technical experts from the Roads and Buildings Department are expected to assess the integrity of the remaining sections and whether poor repair quality or structural fatigue contributed to the collapse.

There is no confirmation yet on whether the bridge had been certified for load capacity after the 2024 repairs or whether a routine inspection was conducted before the monsoon season began. Activists and opposition leaders have already called for transparency in disclosing inspection reports and the identity of the contractors responsible for the maintenance.

As families continue to identify the deceased and injured, the state government has offered condolences and is expected to announce compensation. Gujarat’s Health Minister Rushikesh Patel confirmed the death toll and praised the efforts of local agencies in coordinating the rescue.

The Vadodara bridge collapse has raised pressing concerns over the condition of aging transport infrastructure in Gujarat. With over 10 lives lost, including entire families, and critical questions about inspection procedures and repair accountability, the incident is likely to trigger wider scrutiny into bridge safety protocols in the state and beyond.

A comprehensive investigation is expected in the coming days, while rescue and recovery efforts continue through the night.