Vadodara, Gujarat: Tragedy struck once again in Gujarat as a decades-old bridge over the Mahisagar river in Vadodara district collapsed, leading to the deaths of at least 13 people. As rescue operations continue and fears grow that the toll could rise, a more troubling narrative is emerging—one of official indifference and repeated ignored warnings.
What makes this incident especially distressing is that it didn’t happen without forewarning. According to documents and testimonies now coming to light, local authorities had been alerted multiple times over the past three years about the deteriorating condition of the Gambhira bridge. The bridge, described by local engineers and elected officials as “unsafe for use,” was never decommissioned. Instead, it remained open to daily vehicular traffic—until disaster struck.
Local panchayat member Harshadsingh Parmar had repeatedly written to the state government and the Roads & Buildings Department since 2022, demanding urgent intervention. In one such letter, dated just two months before the infamous Morbi bridge tragedy of October 2022 (which claimed 135 lives), Parmar warned that the Vadodara bridge could collapse “at any time” and squarely stated that the government would be held responsible if lives were lost. He urged the administration to declare the bridge dangerous and begin construction of a new one.
Despite these warnings, no concrete action was taken. According to sources, the only response received was that the matter was “under consideration.” Parmar has stated that bridge pillars were visibly unstable, even shaking when heavy vehicles passed. Yet, the bridge remained in operation without any public disclosure of its structural health or repair plans.
Further complicating the state’s defense are claims made by RTI activist and local leader Laxman Darbar, who said a government engineer had informed him back in 2022 that the bridge was no longer fit for public use. Still, no closure notice was issued.
In the wake of the disaster, executive engineer N.M. Nayakwala from the Roads and Buildings Department attempted to downplay the situation, saying the structure had “no major faults.” But as bodies are pulled from the wreckage and survivors recount moments of horror, the state’s failure to act on repeated alarms is drawing sharp public criticism.
The Vadodara tragedy is now being compared to the Morbi collapse—both disasters linked not only by failing infrastructure but by administrative silence. The question that haunts Gujarat today: how many more warnings must be ignored before lives are valued over negligence?
