Gambhira Bridge Collapse: 10 Dead After Two Years of Ignored Warnings

Vadodara, Gujarat – The Gambhira Bridge collapse in Padra, Vadodara, that claimed 10 lives on Tuesday morning has become more disturbing as it emerges that multiple warnings were issued about the bridge’s dilapidated condition over the past two years — yet no substantial action was taken.

The tragedy unfolded when a slab between two pillars gave way, causing a section of the bridge to collapse. Vehicles passing over the bridge at the time plunged into the Mahisagar River. The death toll rose to 10, with several others injured. The state government announced ₹4 lakh compensation for each of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.

But for many in the region, this is a disaster of deliberate negligence, not fate.

Ignored Warnings Since 2022

In August 2022, Harshadsinh Parmar, a member of the Vadodara District Panchayat, warned authorities in writing. He addressed a letter to the Executive Engineer of the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Division, urging an immediate site inspection of the Gambhira Bridge and called for its closure.

“The bridge was in a very dilapidated condition, and I clearly feared an accident due to heavy vehicle traffic,” Parmar told reporters. “I demanded it be shut and a new bridge constructed. But they only did superficial repairs.”

Not only that — Parmar even cited the Morbi Bridge collapse in his correspondence to stress the consequences of neglect. His warnings were echoed by the Additional Secretary of the Vadodara Collector’s Office, who issued an order to inspect the bridge and publish a test report. However, no action followed beyond minor patchwork.

A Bridge Known to Be Unsafe

Despite being officially declared unsafe in 2022, the Gambhira Bridge continued to serve full vehicular traffic, including trucks and buses. Sources reveal that while a new bridge project worth ₹212 crore had been approved, no groundwork ever began.

“The administration chose to ignore every red flag,” said Rekha Solanki, a local activist. “This isn’t an accident. It’s administrative murder.”

The bridge’s collapse comes just two days after the state government held a meeting on infrastructure affected by heavy rains. The timing has only intensified public outrage.

Locals Blame Systemic Failure

“The death of 10 innocent people is a result of complete failure of the administration and political leadership,” said Nikhil Patel, a shopkeeper from Padra. “They had the funds, the warnings, and the time. But they didn’t act.”

Rescue teams rushed to the spot soon after the collapse, pulling survivors from the debris. The injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals, some in critical condition.

As grieving families prepare for funerals, questions loom large: Why was a bridge deemed dangerous allowed to function?, Why weren’t emergency reinforcements or traffic diversions created?Where did the ₹212 crore sanctioned for the new bridge go?