At least nine people have died after a bridge collapsed over a river in the western Indian state of Gujarat on Wednesday morning.
Rushikesh Patel, Gujarat’s Health Minister, confirmed that several vehicles plunged into the Mahisagar River when a portion of the Gambhira Bridge gave way. The bridge, located in the Vadodara district, was built in 1985, Patel added.
Anil Dhameliya, a senior civil official, told reporters that nine bodies had been recovered, while five others sustained injuries. “Rescue operations are ongoing,” he stated.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident “deeply shocking” and extended his condolences to the victims’ families.
India’s infrastructure has long faced safety concerns, with frequent tragedies involving roads and bridges.
This latest disaster echoes a similar catastrophe in 2022, when a colonial-era suspension bridge collapsed over the Machchu River in Gujarat, sending hundreds of people into the water and killing at least 132.
