Gujarat Bridge Collapse: Search Continues for Two Missing Victims

Quick Summary

• A segment of the 40-year-old Gambhira bridge in Vadodara, Gujarat collapsed on July 9, 2025, causing several vehicles to plunge into the Mahisagar river.
• By July 10 night, rescue teams had recovered 18 bodies; two individuals remain missing. Authorities continue to search for a body trapped under a slab and the driver of a truck stuck in muddy waters.
• The rescue operation faces challenges including muddy terrain and hazardous substances like soda ash and sulphuric acid from a tanker involved in the accident.Efforts are underway to neutralize chemical hazards.
• Rescue operations involve NDRF, SDRF, local agencies, and temporary platforms constructed with concrete mix for easier access to affected areas. The Indian Army provided equipment assistance.
• Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra patel suspended four engineers from the state’s roads department over this incident amid broader concerns about infrastructure safety in Gujarat following prior bridge collapses since 2021.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The Gambhira bridge collapse highlights critical gaps in infrastructure maintenance and planning-a recurring issue underscored by six other major incidents of bridge failure reported across Gujarat since 2021. While such collapses may point toward structural neglect or inadequate safety measures during construction or aging infrastructure oversight processes, immediate accountability measures like engineer suspensions aim at preventing future negligence.

Additionally, challenges faced during rescue operations-such as chemical hazards posed by industrial components falling into waterways-signal broader implications for disaster management protocols concerning both human casualties and environmental risks within urban-industrial ecosystems.India’s rapidly expanding infrastructural demands necessitate not only increased rigorous inspections but also stronger implementation standards aimed at ensuring public safety across decades-old bridges connected with vital transportation links-especially amid growing climatic unpredictability that can worsen structural vulnerabilities.

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Image source: PTI via The Hindu (Rescue operation on third day after several vehicles fell into Mahisagar river)