🏗️ 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

🗨️ Reactions to the Vadodara (Gambhira) Bridge Collapse