Vadodara Bridge Collapse: Death Toll Climbs to 17, Rescue Efforts Continue as Two Remain Missing; Government Orders Investigation

The tragedy at the Gambhira bridge in Vadodara district, Gujarat, has resulted in a grim milestone, with the death toll reaching 17 after the recovery of two additional bodies on Thursday afternoon. Despite ongoing rescue operations in the Mahisagar river, two individuals remain unaccounted for. In response to the disaster, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has initiated a high-level inquiry to determine the cause of the collapse. A team of experts has been assigned to conduct a thorough investigation, scrutinizing the bridge’s repair history, inspection records, and quality control measures. The collapse occurred on Wednesday, when a section of the bridge, which linked Anand and Vadodara via Padra, suddenly gave way, plunging multiple vehicles, including trucks, vans, and an auto-rickshaw, into the river. Authorities have suspended four officers, including Executive Engineer NM Naikwala, Deputy Executive Engineers UC Patel and RT Patel, and Assistant Engineer JV Shah, pending the results of the investigation. Chief Minister Patel has announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also expressed his condolences and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh from the PM National Relief Fund for the families of the deceased.