The death toll from the catastrophic collapse of the Gambhira-Mujpur bridge over the Mahisagar River in Gujarat’s Vadodara district has risen to 13, with two more bodies recovered late Wednesday night. The victims, identified as Mehram Hathiya (51) from Dwarka and Vishnu Raval (27) from Anklav, were among those killed when a 15-20 meter slab of the 40-year-old bridge gave way around 7:30 AM on July 9, sending five vehicles—two trucks, two pickup vans, and an auto-rickshaw—plummeting into the river.

The bridge, a critical link between central Gujarat and Saurashtra, was built in 1985 and had been flagged for structural concerns as early as August 2022 by local leaders, with residents reporting visible shaking when heavy vehicles crossed. Five of the nine rescued individuals are receiving treatment at SSG Hospital in Vadodara, with none in critical condition, according to Superintendent of Police Rohan Anand..

Rescue operations, involving the NDRF, Vadodara fire department, and local volunteers, continue into Thursday, with six people still missing. A high-level investigation by the Roads and Buildings Department is underway to determine the cause, amid allegations of neglected maintenance and overuse by toll-evading heavy vehicles.

Also Read: Tragedy in Vadodara: Four Vehicles Plunge into Mahisagar River as Gambhira Bridge Collapses

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel have announced ex-gratia payments of ₹2 lakh and ₹4 lakh, respectively, for the families of the deceased, and ₹50,000 for the injured. Traffic has been rerouted via Vasad, causing significant delays.

Also Read: Tragedy in Vadodara: Four Vehicles Plunge into Mahisagar River as Gambhira Bridge Collapses