The death toll in the Gambhira bridge collapse in Gujarat’s Vadodara district has risen to 15, following the recovery of three more bodies on Thursday, officials confirmed. Four individuals remain missing as search and rescue operations intensify.
A section of the bridge, which connects Vadodara to Anand, gave way on Wednesday, sending multiple vehicles plunging into the Mahisagar River.
Vadodara Collector Anil Dhameliya provided updates from the site, stating, “The NDRF and SDRF teams are conducting extensive search operations, even up to 4 km downstream. Two vehicles are still trapped in the river sludge, and efforts are underway to retrieve more information about them.”
One tanker remains dangerously suspended from the edge of the collapsed section. Authorities are attempting to stabilize it to avoid further damage or casualties.
Rescue teams are battling rising water levels and intermittent rainfall, which have complicated the efforts to locate those still missing.
On Wednesday, Vadodara SP Rohan Anand reported that a 10–15 metre section of the bridge had collapsed. Among the vehicles that fell into the river were two trucks, two pickup vans, and a rickshaw, while two others remained stranded on the bridge.
Nine people were rescued in the initial operation. Five of them were hospitalized, none in critical condition.
In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ₹2 lakh ex gratia for the families of those deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also declared ₹4 lakh compensation for the families of those who lost their lives and ₹50,000 for the injured.
Rescue and relief operations are expected to continue until all missing persons are accounted for.
