🏗️ Tragedy on the Gambhira Bridge — Vadodara, July 9, 2025
On the morning of July 9, 2025, a slab of the 40‑year‑old Gambhira Bridge collapsed during rush hour, sending multiple vehicles into the Mahisagar River near Padra, Vadodara district, Gujarat.
📍 What happened:
- A span between two piers gave way, causing at least five vehicles—including two trucks, an SUV, a van, an auto-rickshaw, and bikes—to fall into the water .
- As of midday, nine people had been confirmed dead, several injured, and several more feared trapped .
- A local fisherman recounts frantic rescue efforts: “The vehicles fell one after the other… we turned our boats… started efforts to rescue” .
🛠️ Underlying Issues:
- The bridge was constructed in 1985 and frequently vibrated under load. Residents warned that it needed replacement, but it remained open during inspections.
- Opposition parties and locals criticized government inaction and demanded accountability.
- Authorities have launched a multi-agency investigation led by technical engineers to determine the exact cause.
🆘 Immediate Response:
- Rescue operations involved police, NDRF, fire brigade, and volunteers. Cranes are being used to retrieve sunken vehicles .
- Compensation relief: ₹2 lakh from the PM National Relief Fund and ₹4 lakh from the Gujarat government for each deceased, plus ₹50,000 for the injured .
- PM Narendra Modi called the incident “deeply saddening” .
🌐 Context:
- This incident adds to India’s concerning history of failing infrastructure—over 2,130 bridges collapsed between 1977 and 2017, prompting renewed calls for systemic reform.
🕰️ Morbi Bridge – A Cautionary Tale from 2022
Nearly 2.5 years ago, on October 30, 2022, the historic Jhulto Pul in Morbi collapsed, killing at least 141 people and injuring over 180 .
🌉 Bridge Profile:
- A 230 m long, 19th-century pedestrian suspension bridge over the Machchhu River.
- Built around 1887, it linked royal palaces and had a nominal capacity of 15 people .
- After refurbishment and reopening in late October 2022, officials claimed it could support up to 125 people .
⚠️ The Collapse:
- At least 400–500 individuals congregated on the bridge; eyewitnesses reported swaying and shaking just before the collapse at ~18:40 IST .
- The failure was triggered by a main cable snapping, with pre-existing corrosion—22 of 49 steel wires were compromised, and improperly welded suspenders added stresses.
- Other factors: overloading, heavier aluminum decking replacing wooden planks, no load test prior to reopening .
🔎 Investigations & Accountability:
- A Special Investigation Team (SIT) found neglect by Morbi Municipality and Oreva Group, which had reopened the bridge without safety clearance.
- At least 10 individuals arrested, including Oreva’s MD and bridge contractors, charged under IPC sections for culpable homicide and negligence.
📘 Wider Lessons:
- Demands stronger structural health monitoring for public infrastructure, including sensors to track corrosion, load, and vibration.
- Sparked systemic changes: the Morbi municipality was superseded, and infrastructure oversight tightened in Gujarat .
🔎 Drawing the Links: Vadodara & Morbi – What These Tragedies Teach Us
| Theme | Vadodara (2025) | Morbi (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure age | ~40 years (since 1985) | ~135 years (19th century) |
| Ignored warnings | Residents noted vibrations, repair requests unmet | Bridge reopened without load test or safety certificate |
| Triggers | Likely structural fatigue, ageing concrete slab | Corroded cables, overloaded span, heavy deck |
| Oversight & response | Rescue teams mobilized; inquiry ordered | SIT formed; suspects arrested and municipality suspended |
| Outcome | Severe loss of life, renewed debate on maintenance | 141 deaths; policy reforms, bridge safety focus |
