Gujarat Bridge Fiasco: Families Grieve, Engineers Probe After 11 Victims

A massive outcry has erupted in Gujarat following the collapse of the Gambhira Bridge near Padra in Vadodara district. At least 11 people lost their lives, and more remain missing, after the 40-year-old structure gave way, plunging multiple vehicles into the Mahisagar River below.

The bridge, a known risk among locals, has long been a subject of safety complaints — complaints that, according to residents, fell on deaf ears.

Locals React: ‘They Didn’t Listen’

Angry villagers and commuters have staged impromptu protests at the site of the collapse. Many held up signs that read “Bridge of Death” and “Ignored Warnings = Lost Lives.”

“We filed RTIs, called officials, even sent videos showing cracks and water seepage during monsoon,” said Mahesh Chauhan, a local community organizer. “But no one came. Now 11 families are in mourning.”

Government on Back Foot

Facing mounting pressure, Gujarat’s Deputy CM Kanu Desai admitted during a press briefing that the bridge had not undergone a full structural audit in over five years. “We are deeply saddened and take full responsibility for initiating an independent probe,” he said.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has promised swift action, including criminal negligence charges if engineers or officials are found guilty of ignoring safety concerns.

Engineering Failures?

Initial reports from structural engineers at the site suggest that corrosion of steel reinforcement, combined with excessive load and poor maintenance, may have triggered the collapse. Heavy rainfall over the past two weeks is also being considered a contributing factor.

A Pattern of Neglect

This is not the first such incident in Gujarat. In October 2022, the Morbi bridge collapse claimed 141 lives. Following that tragedy, the Gujarat government pledged increased scrutiny on old infrastructure — yet, little appears to have changed.

Urban policy expert Nivedita Sinha called it a “systemic failure.”

“We need not just inquiries after disasters — we need action before they happen.”

National Implications

The collapse has raised national concerns over infrastructure safety, particularly in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Parliament is expected to debate bridge safety protocols in the coming monsoon session, and opposition leaders are already calling for a nationwide audit of all bridges older than 30 years.