At least 13 people, including two children, died early on July 9 when a section of a 39-year-old bridge collapsed near Mujpur village in Gujarat’s Vadodara district.
Six vehicles – three trucks, a pick-up van, an auto-rickshaw and a seven-seater –plunged into the Mahi river from a height of 18 metres.
The bridge, built in 1986, is a vital link between central Gujarat and Saurashtra.
Local villagers launched initial rescue efforts before emergency services arrived. By evening, all bodies were recovered and five injured survivors were hospitalised.
The collapse reignited memories of the Morbi tragedy in October 2022, when a 19th-century suspension bridge gave way after renovation, killing 135 and injuring 56. Investigations blamed shoddy repairs and rushed timelines.
