A Sad News
On July 9, 2025, a 42-year-old bridge in Vadodara, Gujarat, broke and fell into the Mahi River.
Many cars and buses fell into the river. At least 12 people lost their lives. Some reports say that the number may even go up.
This was not just an accident; it happened after many warnings were ignored.
Why Was This Bridge Important?
The bridge was called the Mujpur-Gambhira bridge. It helped connect Central Gujarat to another area of Gujarat called 'Saurashtra'.
Many people used it every day to go to work or travel, and thousands of vehicles crossed it every day.
But with time, the bridge became old and weak. People saw cracks in the bridge and felt shaking when crossing.
Were There Warnings?
Some reports say that since 2021, people started seeing big cracks and felt strange movement while vehicles were crossing the bridge.
In August 2022, a man named Harshadsinh Parmar told the officials that the bridge was dangerous and that it should be closed and rebuilt as new.
After another bridge collapsed in Gujrat in 2022, killing 135 people, he gave the warning again.
But after checking the Gambhira bridge, the officers said they found “no big damage.” So, nothing was done.
Has This Happened Before?
Yes, the Gambhira bridge is the seventh bridge to fall in Gujarat since 2021.
In Morbi (2022), a bridge fell just 4 days after reopening, killing 135 people.
In Palanpur (2023), a bridge under construction fell, and 2 workers died.
In Surat, a new bridge showed cracks in only 42 days.
Other places like Valsad, Tapi, and Ahmedabad also had cases of parts of bridges breaking or falling.
These accidents show that checks were not done properly.
What Happens Next?
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said a new bridge will be made with ₹212 crore.
He also asked officers to tell what went wrong.
But money and a late response cannot bring back the lives lost.
The people of Gujrat want a responsible government, better safety, and strong rules so that this does not happen again.
