The death toll in the Gambhira bridge collapse in Gujarat’s Vadodara district has climbed to 18, with two individuals still missing, officials confirmed on Friday.
Vadodara Collector Anil Dhameliya stated that the rescue and debris removal operations are ongoing, with teams striving to locate the remaining missing persons and safely extract those trapped under the collapsed structure.
The Gambhira bridge, connecting Vadodara and Anand, collapsed into the Mahisagar River on July 9, triggering a large-scale search and rescue mission.
“So far, we have recovered 18 bodies—12 on the day of the collapse and six yesterday,” Dhameliya told reporters. “Five victims are undergoing treatment and are in stable condition. Efforts are underway to retrieve the remaining bodies trapped under a slab of the bridge.”
He added that the rescue teams are facing significant challenges due to a 3–4 metre layer of quicksand in the river and chemical contamination from the soda ash and sulphuric acid released by a trapped tanker truck at the site. “We are taking all necessary precautions to ensure the chemical doesn’t leak into the water,” Dhameliya said.
The driver of the truck remains unaccounted for.
In response to the tragedy, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has ordered a high-level inquiry into the collapse. A team of experts has been appointed to review the repair history, inspection records, and quality control measures related to the bridge.
Following a preliminary probe, the state government has suspended four officials with immediate effect:
- NM Naikwala (Executive Engineer)
- UC Patel (Deputy Executive Engineer)
- RT Patel (Deputy Executive Engineer)
- JV Shah (Assistant Engineer)
The Chief Minister has also directed a statewide inspection of all bridges to prevent similar incidents and ensure public safety.
