Vadodara: A tragic incident occurred early this morning near Padra when the decades-old Gambhira Bridge over the Mahisagar River collapsed, cutting off vital connectivity between the Anand and Vadodara districts. Several vehicles, including a truck, a tanker, and cars, plunged into the river as the bridge gave way. Two people have reportedly died in the accident, while three others have been rescued. Rescue and relief operations are currently underway.

The bridge, built in 1981 and opened in 1985, had long been in a dilapidated condition. The middle portion of the bridge caved in this morning, sending vehicles and passengers into the river below. The incident drew large crowds from Mujpur and surrounding villages, with locals rushing to the scene to assist in the rescue efforts. Padra police also reached the spot and began an investigation. One team of the NDRF, under the supervision of Sanjay Singh (DC) and U/C Inspector Krishna Kumar, has been moved to the site with rescue equipment, including IRB, OBM, and deep divers. Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi informed Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel about the incident, and the Chief Minister is closely monitoring the situation.

Gambhira Bridge on Mahisagar River linking Vadodara to Anand collapses; several vehicles plunge into riverhttps://t.co/tOzGJJdXRj pic.twitter.com/hZwSYZUsJb

— DeshGujarat (@DeshGujarat) July 9, 2025

The collapse has severely impacted road connectivity between Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, and Ankleshwar. Authorities had recently begun repair work on the structure, which had become a crucial yet deteriorating link in the region’s transportation network. DeshGujarat