Following the tragic collapse of the Gambhira bridge that connects Anand and Vadodara districts in Gujarat, Gujarat Congress Legislative Party Leader Amit Chavda has come down heavily on the state government, holding it responsible for the incident that resulted in multiple fatalities and severe disruption to traffic.

Chavda said that the bridge, a vital route connecting Saurashtra to central Gujarat, had long shown signs of damage. “We repeatedly warned the government and urged urgent repairs. Local residents also wrote letters, raising alarms over the poor condition of the bridge. But the government turned a blind eye, and today that negligence has cost lives,” he said.

The bridge, used daily by thousands of commuters and transport vehicles, caved in during morning hours, sending at least four vehicles into the Mahisagar river. Initial rescue efforts are underway, and at least three people are confirmed dead. Chavda added that the Congress had already coordinated with district administrations in Anand and Vadodara to expedite rescue operations and provide assistance to the victims.

“The government must not only take accountability but also conduct a full inquiry. We are demanding a comprehensive bridge safety audit across Gujarat. All bridges must undergo inspection, and the resulting fitness certificates should be released in the public domain,” he stressed.

Chavda said the bridge collapse was not an isolated case, pointing out that similar incidents have occurred in other parts of Gujarat in recent years. “This pattern of ignoring infrastructure decay must end. Public safety cannot be compromised any longer.”