A decades-old bridge over the Gambhira river in Gujarat’s Vadodara district collapsed suddenly around 7:30 AM on Wednesday morning, July 9, 2025. The bridge, built in 1985, connected Vadodara with Anand. Several vehicles including trucks, a Bolero SUV, a pickup van, bikes, and a tanker were on the bridge when a major slab fell, causing them to plunge into the river below.

So far, 9 people have been confirmed dead, and 6 others are critically injured. Local fishermen and residents launched immediate rescue efforts using boats. A viral video shows a mother pleading for help to save her drowning son, adding to the tragedy’s emotional weight.

Rescue operations involving the NDRF, fire brigade, and local authorities are ongoing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced ₹2 lakh ex-gratia for each deceased's family and ₹50,000 for the injured. Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel has also announced ₹4 lakh for the bereaved families and ordered a high-level probe.

The bridge had been flagged as unsafe in 2022, but no repair was undertaken. It has now been sealed off, and this incident has raised serious concerns about infrastructure maintenance across the country.