Gujarat bridge collapse: 40-year-old structure was used by toll-evading heavy lorries | Latest News India

Gujarat bridge collapse: 40-year-old structure was used by toll-evading heavy lorries

Updated on: Jul 10, 2025 07:56 AM IST

A portion of the bridge in Vadodara district collapsed during the morning rush hour on Wednesday, killing at least 12 people.

The 40-year-old bridge in Gujarat's Vadodara district, which collapsed on Wednesday, was being increasingly used by heavy lorries seeking to avoid tolls on the six-lane Mumbai-Ahmedabad national highway.

Rescuers and locals look for survivors after several vehicles fell into a river following the collapse of a portion of a bridge in Mujpur near Vadodara in Gujarat, Wednesday, July 9, 2025.(AP)
Rescuers and locals look for survivors after several vehicles fell into a river following the collapse of a portion of a bridge in Mujpur near Vadodara in Gujarat, Wednesday, July 9, 2025.(AP)

The detour also shortened the journey of the heavy lorries by at least 30-35 kilometres, according to locals.

A portion of the bridge collapsed during the morning rush hour on Wednesday, killing at least 12 people. Two lorries, an SUV, a pickup van and an auto-rickshaw fell into the water while a tanker was stuck on the edge of the portion that gave way. The bridge, which connects Anand and Vadodara districts, was built in 1985.

Locals said that each time a heavy vehicle crossed, the spans of the bridge visibly shook.

Also Read | 'Kept crying for help': Gujarat bridge collapse survivor whose family died

“Each time a heavy vehicle crossed, the spans of the bridge visibly shook. It was a disaster waiting to happen,” said Davendra Patel, a Borsad village resident who was driving towards Vadodara when he learnt of the collapse. He added that another nearby bridge was in similar condition.

According to government officials, residents of Bamangam and other nearby villages have long demanded that a new bridge be built instead of repeated repairs.

An official aware of the matter said the state government cleared a proposal to build a new bridge in November 2024 at a project cost of 217 crore.

Probe ordered

 

Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel has ordered an investigation and dispatched a technical team comprising the chief engineer-design, chief engineer-South Gujarat, and two private bridge construction specialists to examine the incident.

Also Read | What happened after Vadodara bridge collapse: Minutes of horror in Gujarat mishap

“I have instructed the team to urgently investigate the reasons for the bridge collapse and submit a preliminary report on technical aspects,” Patel said, noting that one of the bridge’s 23 spans had failed.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also announced 2 lakh compensation from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the victim’s kin.

“The loss of lives due to the collapse of a bridge in Vadodara district, Gujarat, is deeply saddening. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon,” he wrote in a post on X.

Get Latest real-time updates on India News, Weather Today, Latest News with including Bihar Chunav and TVK Rally Stampede Live on Hindustan Times.
Get Latest real-time updates on India News, Weather Today, Latest News with including Bihar Chunav and TVK Rally Stampede Live on Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
SHARE
close
Story Saved
Live Score
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
Get App
crown-icon
Subscribe Now!
.affilate-product { padding: 12px 10px; border-radius: 4px; box-shadow: 0 0 6px 0 rgba(64, 64, 64, 0.16); background-color: #fff; margin: 0px 0px 20px; } .affilate-product #affilate-img { width: 110px; height: 110px; position: relative; margin: 0 auto 10px auto; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0.2px 0.5px #00000017; border-radius: 6px; } #affilate-img img { max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; position: absolute; top: 50%; left: 50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%); } .affilate-heading { font-size: 16px; color: #000; font-family: "Lato",sans-serif; font-weight:700; margin-bottom: 15px; } .affilate-price { font-size: 24px; color: #424242; font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif; font-weight:900; } .affilate-price del { color: #757575; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif; font-weight:400; margin-left: 10px; text-decoration: line-through; } .affilate-rating .discountBadge { font-size: 12px; border-radius: 4px; font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif; font-weight:400; color: #ffffff; background: #fcb72b; line-height: 15px; padding: 0px 4px; display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; min-width: 63px; height: 24px; text-align: center; margin-left: 10px; } .affilate-rating .discountBadge span { font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif; font-weight:900; margin-left: 5px; } .affilate-discount { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: end; margin-top: 10px } .affilate-rating { font-size: 13px; font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif; font-weight:400; color: black; display: flex; align-items: center; } #affilate-rating-box { width: 48px; height: 24px; color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: center; border-radius: 2px; background-color: #508c46; white-space: nowrap; display: inline-flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; gap: 4px; margin-right: 5px; } #affilate-rating-box img { height: 12.5px; width: auto; } #affilate-button{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; position: relative; } #affilate-button img { width: 58px; position: absolute; bottom: 42px; right: 0; } #affilate-button button { width: 101px; height: 32px; font-size: 14px; cursor: pointer; text-transform: uppercase; background: #00b1cd; text-align: center; color: #fff; border-radius: 4px; font-family: 'Lato',sans-serif; font-weight:900; padding: 0px 16px; display: inline-block; border: 0; } @media screen and (min-width:1200px) { .affilate-product #affilate-img { margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; } .affilate-product { display: flex; position: relative; } .affilate-info { width: calc(100% - 130px); min-width: calc(100% - 130px); display: flex; flex-direction: column; justify-content: space-between; } .affilate-heading { margin-bottom: 8px; } .affilate-rating .discountBadge { position: absolute; left: 10px; top: 12px; margin: 0; } #affilate-button{ flex-direction: row; gap:20px; align-items: center; } #affilate-button img { width: 75px; position: relative; top: 4px; } }