Vadodara bridge collapse: Activists say repeated warnings about ‘dangerous condition’ ignored

After at least 16 people were killed when a section of the Gambhira bridge over the Mahisagar river collapsed in Padra taluk of Gujarat’s Vadodara district, social activists, Opposition leaders and local residents have alleged that authorities ignored repeated warnings about the “dangerous condition” of the four-decade-old structure.

They claim that even the government official they alerted in 2022 admitted the structure “may not survive long”, yet no urgent repairs or closure followed.

Lakhan Darbar, founder of the Yuva Sena activist group in Vadodara, said that he had warned authorities during discussions on August 22, 2022. He accused officials of wilful negligence, saying, “They knew the bridge was on the verge of collapse but took no steps to prevent this tragedy.”

Speaking to The HinduMr. Darbar said the issue first gained attention in August 2022 when Harshadsinh Parmar, a district panchayat member and Yuva Sena member, submitted a written complaint about the bridge’s condition. “There was no response to Harshad’s representation, so I took it up with the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department officer concerned. He acknowledged the risks, but no action followed. Yesterday, lives were lost due to this negligence,” he said.

Mr. Darbar also shared an audio recording of his conversation with the R&B officer. In the clip, he is heard urging the department to either repair or reconstruct the bridge, citing danger to commuters. “People’s lives are in danger but no action has been taken yet. We will sit on a fast if steps are not taken,” Mr. Darbar is heard saying in the recording.

The officer responds that a survey by a private consultant had flagged concerns, admitting the bridge may not last much longer. “Even we believe that the bridge may not survive for long… But how can we just shut the bridge? We’ve informed our superiors. A proposal to either rebuild or strengthen the structure has been sent. Our design team will inspect it,” the official adds.

Around 7.30 a.m. on Wednesday (July 9, 2025), a section of the bridge collapsed when a 10 to 15-metre-long slab of the bridge — a key connector between central Gujarat and the Saurashtra region — suddenly gave way, sending cars, bikes and auto rickshaws plunging into the Mahisagar river.

After the collapse, Mr. Darbar visited the site and criticised the department for keeping the bridge open to vehicles despite internal findings. “This is a key route between Anand and Vadodara, with heavy daily traffic. Officials had information about the bridge’s poor condition since 2022, including adverse survey results, yet kept it operational,” he said.

However, Nainish Naykawala, Executive Engineer of the R&B Department’s Vadodara division, said the department found no major structural faults during its inspection. “There was no demand to shut the bridge. Our reports did not indicate serious damage. There was an issue with the bearing coat, but it was repaired last year,” he said.

The bridge collapse has ignited fierce political backlash, with Opposition parties uniting in their condemnation of the State government. Former Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela launched a scathing attack, claiming “this tragedy is the price of BJP’s 30-year misrule”.

Congress leaders Amit Chavda and Manish Doshi demanded a high-level judicial investigation, while Aam Aadmi Party’s Isudan Gadhvi called it “a man-made disaster”.