A tragic accident struck Gujarat’s Vadodara district on the morning of July 9, 2025, when a 43-year-old bridge collapsed without warning, sending multiple vehicles plunging into the Mahisagar River. At least 12 people lost their lives, including three members of a single family, and nine others were injured in the sudden and shocking incident that occurred around 7:30 am.
The bridge, located in Mujpur village in Padra taluka, connected Central Gujarat to Saurashtra via Gambhira in Anand district. It was widely used by commuters hoping to avoid city traffic. On that fateful morning, an Eeco van, two trucks, a pickup van, an autorickshaw, and possibly two motorcycles were crossing when a section of the bridge gave way, according to officials on the scene.
One of the most heart-wrenching stories to emerge from the tragedy came from Sonal Padhiyar, the sole survivor from an Eeco van that was carrying nine people. Among the dead were her husband, daughter, and two-year-old grandson. Sonal, who was seated in the rear of the van, described the crash as sudden and terrifying. “We fell in a matter of seconds. Before we could even realise what happened, the vehicle had hit the water and was being pulled into the river,” she said. Help arrived nearly an hour later. “My entire family was underwater for that time. I knew I had lost them…” she said through tears.
As rescue operations continued throughout the day, the death toll initially stood at 11 before another body was recovered in the evening. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local fire and emergency teams worked tirelessly to search for survivors and retrieve bodies from the riverbed. Deep-water divers were deployed due to the swift current, although officials noted that this stretch of the river was not particularly deep.
Raju Hathiya, a truck driver from Dwarka who was on his way to Ankleshwar, was another survivor. He recalled the moment his truck fell into the river, saying it happened so fast he couldn’t even comprehend what had occurred. “There were two people in my vehicle… I am not sure where my helper is. The truck just fell into the water. I came out of my side, and someone eventually pulled me out in a boat,” he recounted. He noted that there were at least three other vehicles and some motorcycles nearby when the bridge gave way.
Vadodara District Collector Anil Dhameliya confirmed that the bridge had undergone repairs just last year. “The executive engineers of the Roads and Buildings Department are en route. Once the rescue operation concludes, a full inspection of the bridge will be carried out,” he said. Meanwhile, the police have registered a case of accidental death and are awaiting an inquiry report from the District Collector to begin a formal investigation.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has ordered a departmental inquiry into the collapse, tasking the Roads and Buildings Department with determining the cause. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing his condolences, called the loss of lives “deeply saddening” and extended support to the grieving families.
Among the deceased were Ramesh, Vedika, and Naitaik Padhiyar from Dariyapura village; Hasmukh Parmar from Majatan; Vakhatsinh Jadav from Kahanva village; and Pravin Jadav from Undel village. As authorities continue to identify victims and offer medical care to survivors, the collapse raises fresh questions about the structural integrity and ongoing maintenance of older bridges in the state.
As rescue efforts continue, the community remains in shock, grappling with the sheer scale of the tragedy and the swiftness with which ordinary lives were upended in a matter of seconds.