Summary:
The collapse of the Gambhira bridge in Gujarat’s Vadodara district has claimed 11 lives, raising serious questions about infrastructure maintenance and government accountability. Built in 1985, the bridge had long been in a dilapidated state. The tragedy exposes the cracks in the so-called “Gujarat Model” and highlights the urgent need for proactive governance.
Tragedy Strikes on the Mahisagar River
In the early hours of July 9, 2025, a horrifying scene unfolded near the Mahisagar river in Gujarat. The Gambhira bridge, connecting Vadodara and Anand districts, collapsed while several vehicles were crossing it. Eyewitnesses, including local fisherman Narendra Mali, described how cars, trucks, and bikes plunged into the river as the bridge gave way. “The vehicles fell one after the other,” he said, as he and fellow fishermen rushed to rescue the victims.
Unfortunately, those rescue efforts were not enough to prevent a devastating toll. As of the latest update, 11 people have lost their lives, and several others are injured. The deceased include residents from the local Padiyar and Jadhav families. Rescue teams, including police and disaster response units, remain on-site, searching for survivors and recovering vehicles from the water.
Bridge Was a “Disaster Waiting to Happen”
Perhaps most tragic is the fact that this collapse could have been prevented. The Gambhira bridge had been in use for nearly 40 years. According to local accounts, the bridge visibly shook whenever vehicles crossed it—a clear sign of structural weakness.
Despite a prior survey and plans for constructing a new bridge, the old one remained operational. Local BJP MLA Chaitanyasinh Zala had recommended building a replacement, and the government approved the plan. However, the failure to shut down or significantly restrict access to the decaying bridge has proven fatal.
In the aftermath of the incident, criticism has poured in from residents, opposition parties, and civil society groups. The question everyone is asking: why was a clearly unsafe bridge still in service?
Condolences and Compensation Announced
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow, calling the incident “deeply saddening.” He announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel echoed the sentiments, promising ₹4 lakh to the families of those killed and ₹50,000 to those injured. “All treatment expenses will be borne by the state,” he stated.
District officials, including Vadodara Collector Anil Dhamelia, assured that immediate action is being taken to rescue victims, recover vehicles, and reroute traffic. However, these post-tragedy assurances may not be enough to placate public anger.
Opposition Slams “Gujarat Model”
The Congress Party was quick to criticize the state government, claiming that the tragedy exposes rampant corruption and neglect behind the much-touted ‘Gujarat Model’ of development.
Senior Congress MLA Amit Chavda accused the ruling party of turning a blind eye to repeated warnings about the condition of the Gambhira bridge. “We raised this issue multiple times. The government did nothing. The responsibility lies squarely with the administration,” he said.
The Congress also claimed that many infrastructure projects in Gujarat are suffering from poor oversight and corruption, citing substandard construction, ignored safety checks, and lack of maintenance.
A Wider Crisis of Neglected Infrastructure
While this incident has shocked Gujarat, it is not an isolated case. Across India, dozens of bridges, flyovers, and public buildings are decades old and suffer from lack of maintenance. Recent bridge failures in Bihar, West Bengal, and Maharashtra underline a systemic issue: poor monitoring and delayed action cost lives.
India has a long-standing tradition of building grand infrastructure but often fails to uphold the basic duty of long-term maintenance and safety audits. The collapse of the Gambhira bridge should be a wake-up call for governments across the country to implement strict structural health monitoring systems and hold officials accountable for lapses.
Conclusion: Accountability Needed, Not Just Compensation
The Gujarat bridge collapse is not just a tragic accident; it is a policy failure. Despite clear signs of structural decay, the authorities failed to take decisive preventive action. Offering compensation is necessary, but it is no substitute for accountability and reform.
The government must now ensure:
A thorough, independent investigation into the causes of the collapse.
Legal accountability for those responsible for delays and negligence.
Fast-tracked construction of the new bridge with public updates.
Immediate audits of other aging infrastructure across the state and country.
Only by addressing these root issues can we hope to prevent such disasters in the future.