Gujarat Bridge Collapse Kills Nine, Sparks Probe

At least nine people died and several were injured when the decades-old Gambhira bridge over the Mahisagar River collapsed in Vadodara, Gujarat, during peak morning hours, sending multiple vehicles, including trucks and SUVs, into the water. The incident disrupted a vital transportation link between Anand and Vadodara, affecting thousands of commuters and trade routes across Central Gujarat and Saurashtra. Rescue operations by local authorities and the National Disaster Response Force involved cranes and divers to recover victims and vehicles. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel offered condolences and announced ex-gratia compensation for victims' families, while ordering a thorough technical investigation. Locals and opposition leaders criticized officials for ignoring repeated warnings about the bridge's poor condition, despite repair work in 2019–20. The tragedy has sparked renewed calls for stricter infrastructure safety audits and accountability.