Vadodara: The rescue operation entered the third day following the collapse of the Gambhira Bridge over the Mahisagar River, with the death toll rising to 18. Vadodara Collector Anil Dhameliya and other officials visited the site to oversee the ongoing search and recovery efforts.

Briefing the media about the operation, Dhameliya said, “Rescue and recovery operations are underway following the Gambhira Bridge accident on July 9. Twelve bodies were recovered the day before yesterday, and six more were recovered yesterday. Five injured persons were found on the first day and are currently stable. Today, the primary objective is to recover bodies trapped under the collapsed slab and the truck whose driver is still missing.”

He added, “As you can see, the situation in the middle of the river is difficult. There is a 3–4 metre layer of quicksand, yet the team is working with great effort. Soda ash in the water is causing irritation and itching for the rescue team. A tanker carrying sulphuric acid is also trapped, so we’re ensuring it doesn’t leak. It will be neutralised once the rescue operations are complete. The truck stuck on the bridge has been stabilised and will be removed later.”

“The death toll currently stands at 18, with two people still missing. Contrary to initial reports, there are no other missing persons or vehicles in the river. The NDRF team has thoroughly searched the area,” he added.

The bridge, a key link between Central Gujarat and South Gujarat, connecting Vadodara to Surat, collapsed early Wednesday morning, sending two trucks, a pickup van, and other vehicles plunging into the Mahisagar River. DeshGujarat