A part of the Gambhira-Mujpur bridge in Padra taluka of Gujarat’s Vadodara district collapsed on Wednesday morning, killing nine people and injuring at least three others. The accident happened during the busy morning hours when many vehicles were crossing the bridge.

The bridge connects the Anand and Vadodara districts and is an important route for daily traffic. According to reports, four vehicles—including two trucks, a Bolero SUV, and a pickup van—were on the bridge when it suddenly gave way and the vehicles fell into the Mahisagar (Mahi) River.

Eyewitnesses said they heard a loud cracking sound just before the bridge collapsed. People nearby rushed to help. Fire brigade teams, police officers, and members of the Vadodara district administration also reached the spot quickly and began rescue operations. Locals helped the teams pull out the injured from the water and damaged vehicles. Three people were rescued and taken to the hospital.

Padra MLA Chaitanyasinh Zala visited the site soon after the collapse. The area has now been sealed to stop further accidents, and an investigation has started to find out what caused the bridge to fall.

Many local residents said they had already warned the authorities about the poor condition of the bridge. One local said, “The Gambhira bridge has become notorious not just as a traffic hazard but also as a suicide point. Repeated warnings about its condition were ignored.”

Senior Congress leader Amit Chavda also spoke out. He posted, “The main Gambhira bridge connecting Anand and Vadodara districts has collapsed. Many vehicles have fallen into the river, and major casualties are feared. The administration must immediately carry out rescue operations and arrange alternate routes for traffic.”

Rescue workers are still searching the river for missing persons. Cranes have been brought in to lift the fallen vehicles. A technical check of similar bridges in the area is expected to happen soon to prevent such tragedies in the future.

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