Government Criticized Over Bridge Tragedy in Gujarat
The collapse of the 43-year-old Gambhira bridge over the Mahisagar river in Vadodara, Gujarat, on July 9, 2025, has sparked concerns about government negligence and the need for audits of old bridges. At least 11 people lost their lives in the incident, with multiple vehicles falling into the river, including two trucks.
The bridge, which connects central Gujarat to the Saurashtra region, is a crucial transport link between the two areas and was constructed in 1985. The incident has raised questions about the adequacy of maintenance and repairs on aging infrastructure, following the bridge's reported repair last year.
The opposition leader in the state assembly, Amit Chavda, has stated that concerns about the bridge's conditions were not heeded by the administration. He has urged the state government to conduct an audit of all old bridges and make the report public. This call comes in the wake of repeated bridge collapses and heightened public anxiety about the safety of old bridges across India.
Opposition parties have claimed that the state government's negligence led to the bridge collapse. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela called the incident a case of criminal negligence, citing that social workers had flagged the bad condition of the bridge in 2022 and sought its rebuilding, but the government did not act.
The Aam Aadmi Party's Gujarat unit president, Isudan Gadhvi, has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, accusing the BJP government of corruption. Gadhvi stated that the bridge collapse in Vadodara was a man-made disaster due to the state government's negligence.
In response to the incident, the government has launched investigations, but there is pressure for more proactive measures. This includes implementing stricter maintenance schedules, conducting regular structural assessments, and ensuring comprehensive audits of old bridges to identify potential risks and undertake necessary repairs or replacements.
Vaghela, who heads the Praja Shakti Democratic Party, has called for a court-monitored probe and punishment for those responsible for the bridge collapse tragedy. Chavda, on the other hand, has demanded an inquiry and punishment for those responsible for the negligence that led to the bridge collapse.
Nine people were rescued, some with injuries, from the Mahisagar river. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the importance of ensuring the structural integrity of aging infrastructure and the need for proactive measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Traveling through Gujarat on July 9, 2025, was jarring as the collapse of the Gambhira bridge over the Mahisagar river, a crucial transport link, led to car-accidents and several fatalities. Politics surrounding the incident have raised concerns about the responsibility and maintenance of old bridges, with opposition leaders demanding audits and punishment for those responsible.
