Surat Activist Seeks FIR Against Gujarat CM Over Gambhira Bridge Collapse

Surat, Gujarat –In a dramatic turn following the tragic Gambhira bridge collapse that claimed 21 lives, Surat-based social activist Sanjay Ezhava has filed an application with the Surat Police Commissioner, demanding the registration of an FIR against Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel under Section 105 of the BNS Act (culpable homicide).

The bridge, which connected Vadodara and Anand, collapsed on July 9, causing over seven vehicles, including trucks, to plunge from a height of 150 feet into the river below. Eyewitness accounts and official sources have confirmed that 21 people lost their lives, with more casualties feared.

In his application, Ezhava accused the Gujarat government of gross negligence and dereliction of duty, stating,“Despite repeated warnings about the dilapidated condition of the Gambhira bridge, no action was taken. This is not an accident—it’s a man-made disaster. The Chief Minister must be held accountable for the deaths.”

The activist cited multiple documented complaints from 2022, including a letter by Harshadsinh Parmar, a district panchayat member from Mujpur, to the Roads & Buildings (R&B) Department, warning that the bridge was on the verge of collapse. He demanded an urgent structural audit—but no effective steps were taken.

Another letter from P.K. Parmar, Additional Chitnish to the Vadodara Collector, dated August 5, 2022, also highlighted the “serious structural damage” and instructed the R&B department to act immediately. Yet, the bridge remained operational and unsafe for commuters and heavy vehicles.

Adding to the list of ignored warnings, Lakhan Darbar, a Vadodara resident, also raised concerns with the R&B division. The engineer acknowledged the risk, but again, no action followed.

Ezhava’s application links the Gambhira tragedy to a disturbing pattern of state-wide governance failure, pointing to six major disasters in Gujarat over recent years where no senior authority was held accountable:

Morbi bridge collapse (2022) – 135 dead

Rajkot TRP Game Zone fire (2024) – 27 dead

Vadodara Harani boat disaster (2024) – 14 dead

Takshashila fire, Surat (2019) – 22 dead

Shrey Hospital fire, Ahmedabad (2020) – 8 dead

He emphasized that such incidents reflect a blatant disregard for Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty.

“The state government is failing its citizens. If complaints go unheard and lives are lost, who is responsible? This is a violation of human rights and the Constitution,” Ezhava asserted.

The demand for an FIR against the Chief Minister has stirred political ripples and intensified calls for accountability in Gujarat’s administration. The police have yet to respond officially to the application.