At least nine people were killed after a bridge over a river collapsed in India’s western Gujarat state on Wednesday.
Gujarat’s Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said several vehicles were on the Gambhira Bridge when a portion of it collapsed, sending many into the river. He said at least five people were rescued.
The incident occurred at around 7.30am today in Gujarat’s Vadodara district, which has witnessed heavy rains over the past few days. The 3000ft-long bridge was constructed in 1985, Patel said.
Video footage showed a large lorry precariously sat on the broken part of the bridge as onlookers watched in horror.
Another video showed one man in the water below trying to navigate the wreckage of the bridge. He was seen shouting up at those on the bridge as he was surrounded by rubble and overturned vehicles.
Locals told Indian media that the bridge has long been in a dilapidated state, and that their requests to repair the bridge were ignored.
One anonymous local said: ‘The Gambhira bridge has become notorious not just as a traffic hazard but also as a suicide point. Repeated warnings about its condition were ignored.’
Now, local authorities are investigating the incident. Patel said: ‘Instructions have been given to talk to Vadodara Collector and make arrangements on priority basis for immediate treatment of the injured.
‘The local municipality and Vadodara Municipal Corporation’s fire brigade team are active with boats and divers for relief and rescue work at the accident site, along with this the NDRF team has also reached the spot and started rescue work.
He added: ‘The Road and Building Department has been ordered to conduct an immediate investigation into this accident.’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the accident was ‘deeply saddening’ and offered condolences to those who died.
He added that the families of those who died would be given 200,000 rupees (£1,716) from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund as compensation, while those who were injured would be given 50,000 rupees (£429).
India’s infrastructure has long been marred by safety concerns, sometimes leading to major disasters on its highways and bridges.
In 2022, a century-old cable suspension bridge collapsed into a river in Gujarat, sending hundreds plunging into the water and killing at least 132.
