Vadodara Gambhira Bridge Collapse | 11 Dead, FIR Demanded.

A significant tragedy caught up with Gujarat on Tuesday morning when a section of the Gambhira Bridge in Vadodara collapsed and multiple vehicles fell into the Mahisagar River. At least 11 people died and five others were seriously hurt in what is now being described as one of the most shocking infrastructure failures in recent memory.

Bridge Collapse Sends Trucks and Jeep Into the River

The accident took place during the early morning hours in Gambhira when the 40-year-old bridge linking central Gujarat and the Saurashtra region collapsed. As per primary reports, at least four vehicles including two trucks, a Bolero jeep and another car were on the bridge when a large slab between two piers fell off.

According to eyewitness accounts, there was no warning when suddenly all the vehicles dropped into the river. Images from the scene illustrate that the entire concrete slab is missing and there is a massive gap for sportives where the road used to lay abound.. dashed the overcrowded bridge.

Long-Ignored Warnings Spark Public Anger

As rescue teams made their way to the location, anger built over disturbing indications that safety warnings had been made about the bridge prior to the incident. A phone recording that was made viral in August 2022 with Lakhan Darbar, a Vadodara activist, and a government officer in the Roads and Buildings Department has revived this concern.

In the recording, it is shown that the officer stated that the bridge was not structurally sound and would not last the next twelve months. In fact, he went on to say that a request for repairs was made, engineers were consulted and that nothing was done.

Authorities Offer Conflicting Statements

In spite of the plethora of evidence we’ve seen so far, government officials appear to be inconsistent in their response? The Executive Engineer (NM Nayakawala) who attended the trip assured people that the bridge had no signs of crashing or any external indications of compromising structural integrity.

“It was built in 1985 with a lifespan of 100 years. It was not declared unsafe. Potholes were filled recently and general maintenance was carried out,” Nayakawala told the media.

A Preventable Disaster and a Wake-Up Call

The Vadodara bridge failure has become a symbol of systemic failure – an avoidable disaster if signs of danger were fully recognized. Public confidence, in everybody’s instinctive responses, hard wrought results of an injustice: a disaster, engendering anger, accountability, authenticity.

People inhabiting Vadodara, it isn’t just a story, it is an dreadful wake-up call illustrating a reality of ignored aging infrastructure.