A 43-year-old section of the Gambhira bridge connecting Anand and Vadodara collapsed on the morning of July 9, sending six vehicles and at least 13 people plunging into the Mahisagar River, officials confirmed today. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy and announced ₹4 lakh to each family of the deceased, along with ₹50,000 for the injured.

The collapsed segment, reportedly weakened by toll-evading heavy trucks seeking to bypass the Mumbai–Ahmedabad national highway, was visibly shaking before the incident warning signs locals had repeatedly flagged. Among those killed were identified victims including Vedika and Naitik Padhiyar, Hasmukh Parmar, Ramesh Padhiyar, Vakhtsinh Jadav, and Pravin Jadav; injured survivors include Sonal Padhiyar and Ganpatsinh Rajula, among others.

Rescue operations were started immediately, led by the State Disaster Response Force and local teams, retrieving nine bodies initially and two more later as the death toll rose to 13. The National Relief Fund, via Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has pledged ₹2 lakh per deceased and ₹50,000 per injured individual.

In the aftermath, an official inquiry has begun, and a ₹217 crore project to replace the aging bridge approved in November 2024 is expected to be fast‑tracked. Along with continuing the investigation, the officers are appealing to maintain peace, while the security systems of other similar structures are being reviewed. Compensation and medical assistance continue for the victims, but this loss is extremely deep for the communities dependent on this sensitive contact.