Death toll in Gambhira bridge collapse rises to 20
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Ahmedabad: The death toll from the collapse of a section of the Gambhira Bridge over the Mahisagar River in Gujarat’s Anand district has climbed to 20, with two individuals still unaccounted for. The incident, which occurred in Padra taluka, involved five to seven vehicles plunging into the river, prompting ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.
While mourning continues in the affected communities, the final rites of several victims have yet to be performed, as political leaders from various parties engage in a war of words. The absence of a unified political response has sparked criticism from civil society groups.
In response to growing public and political pressure, the Gujarat government has taken disciplinary action, suspending four engineers from the Public Works Department (PWD) based on initial investigations. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who also oversees the PWD, has ordered a high-level probe into the incident, assuring that a comprehensive report will be submitted within 30 days.
Health Minister and government spokesperson Rushikesh Patel visited the accident site to monitor the ongoing rescue efforts and directed local authorities to speed up the investigation process. Although the government has stated that swift action is being taken, the opposition remains sceptical, TNIE reported.
Rescue operations faced further challenges when a submerged tanker began leaking soda ash. The chemical’s reaction with water caused severe eye irritation among rescue personnel, leading to a temporary suspension of their work. During the recovery of a truck from the riverbed, two more bodies were found, bringing the confirmed death toll to 20.
Congress leader Amit Chavda blamed both the Public Works Department (PWD) and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel for the incident. He alleged that the bridge, built in the 1980s, had outlived its intended life span and had been showing signs of structural weakness—such as shaking under traffic—which locals had reported multiple times.
Chavda further accused the department of deep-rooted corruption and negligence, arguing that such incidents are becoming increasingly frequent due to the government's failure to maintain public infrastructure. He called for the Chief Minister’s resignation, holding him morally responsible, and reflected the growing public anger over the state’s inability to avert such disasters.
As search teams continue in their efforts and grieving families await answers, the focus continues to remain on accountability and the pressing need for serious reforms in infrastructure safety.