Vadodara, Gujarat – The death toll in the tragic Gambhira bridge collapse in Vadodara has climbed to 13 after two more bodies were recovered from the Mahisagar River, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The bridge, which connected Vadodara and Anand districts, partially collapsed on Wednesday, sending a portion of its structure and several vehicles into the river below. The collapsed section measured approximately 10-15 metres, according to local authorities.
Rescue operations resumed early Thursday morning, with teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) continuing their efforts. Vadodara District Collector Anil Dhameliya visited the site again today to oversee ongoing relief and rescue operations, which have been active since the incident occurred.
Vadodara Superintendent of Police Rohan Anand stated that two trucks, two pickup vans, and a rickshaw plunged into the river, while two other vehicles remained stranded on the damaged bridge. So far, nine people have been rescued, with five referred to SSG Hospital. None of the rescued individuals are reported to be in critical condition.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed deep sorrow over the incident on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“The accident in Vadodara district is deeply tragic. The NDRF is on site, assisting with rescue operations. My condolences to those who lost loved ones, and I wish a speedy recovery for the injured.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also declared a compensation of ₹4 lakh for the families of those who died and ₹50,000 for the injured.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the collapse, while rescue efforts remain ongoing.
