Tragedy struck in Gujarat on Wednesday morning as the Gambhira bridge near Padra town collapsed during peak traffic hours, claiming 11 lives and disrupting a critical transport link between South Gujarat and Saurashtra.
The bridge, which connected the Anand and Vadodara districts, gave way while four vehicles—two trucks, a Bolero SUV, and a pickup van—were crossing it. The vehicles plunged into the Mahisagar River as a section of the nearly 900-metre-long structure crumbled without warning.
The Gambhira bridge was the only shortcut connecting South Gujarat to Saurashtra. With its collapse, commuters now face a detour of approximately 50 kilometres via Vasad, a route expected to cause major congestion, especially at toll plazas.
Originally built in 1986 by the Lucknow-based UP State Bridge Construction Company at a cost of ₹343 lakh, the bridge has long been considered structurally outdated and was infamously known as a suicide point. It had 23 piers and served a vast catchment area of over 30,000 sq. km.
The collapse has not only severed a vital regional connection but has also disrupted rural access roads in Anand and Vadodara. Many daily wage earners from villages near Anand who commute to Padra for work will now face serious difficulties reaching their jobs.
As a temporary measure, traffic has been rerouted via Sindhrot, requiring an additional 16-kilometre detour. However, long-term solutions and bridge reconstruction plans are yet to be announced.
The incident raises serious questions about infrastructure maintenance and safety oversight, as yet another aging bridge failure in India leads to both loss of life and massive logistical setbacks.