The catastrophic collapse of the Gambhira Bridge in Vadodara’s Padra taluka on July 9, 2025, is not merely a tragic accident but a glaring indictment of the Gujarat BJP government’s systemic negligence and incompetence. At approximately 7:45 AM, the bridge, connecting Anand and Vadodara, crumbled under the weight of routine traffic, plunging trucks, a pickup van, and an Eco car into the Mahisagar River. Official reports confirm nine innocent lives lost, with rescue operations still underway. This disaster, however, was no unforeseen calamity—it was a preventable tragedy foretold by years of ignored warnings and unaddressed complaints. The Gujarat BJP government, despite its decades-long rule and self-proclaimed “development” agenda, stands exposed for its callous disregard for public safety and infrastructure integrity.A History of Ignored WarningsThe Gambhira Bridge was a disaster waiting to happen. Local residents and public representatives had repeatedly flagged its dilapidated condition to the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department. As early as 2022, Harshadsinh Parmar, a member of the district panchayat, submitted a written complaint highlighting the bridge’s dire state. His letter explicitly noted that the bridge’s pillars were compromised, causing tremors when heavy vehicles passed, and its surface was perpetually deteriorating despite frequent repairs. Parmar urged the authorities to declare the bridge hazardous, close it to traffic, and initiate construction of a new structure. He even warned that failure to act would hold the administration fully accountable for any loss of life.Former Congress MLA Jashpalsinh Padhiyar also raised the issue, demanding urgent renovation. In August 2022, the district collector’s office acknowledged these concerns and notified the R&B Department’s executive engineer. Yet, despite these documented pleas—both written and verbal—the BJP-led administration remained indifferent. No meaningful action was taken, no inspections were prioritized, and no funds were allocated to address the imminent danger. The government’s inaction is not just negligence; it is a betrayal of public trust that has cost innocent lives.A Pattern of Governance FailureThe Gambhira Bridge collapse is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of administrative apathy under the Gujarat BJP government. Just hours before the bridge tragedy, reports emerged of a food poisoning outbreak at the Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) girls’ hostel in Vadodara, where over 80 female students fell ill, overwhelming local hospitals.
Ambulances lined the streets, and stretchers ran short, exposing the government’s failure to ensure basic food safety standards in educational institutions.
Similarly, a recent incident involving the Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Limited (DGVCL) further underscores the state’s crumbling public services. A citizen, frustrated after making 38 unanswered calls to report a power outage, visited the DGVCL office only to find employees allegedly drinking on duty. This shocking lapse, captured on camera, reflects the arrogance and inefficiency permeating Gujarat’s public utilities.These incidents—spanning infrastructure, public health, and utilities—paint a damning picture of a government that prioritizes political posturing over governance.
For a state long touted as a model of development, these failures reveal a hollow narrative, where shiny promises mask systemic rot.
The Human Cost of Negligence
The Gambhira Bridge collapse has left families shattered and communities in mourning. Nine lives were snuffed out in an instant, with rescue teams still searching for others trapped in the river’s depths. The victims were ordinary citizens—drivers, passengers, workers—whose only mistake was trusting that the government had ensured their safety. The BJP’s failure to act on repeated warnings has turned a vital lifeline into a death trap, leaving blood on the hands of those in power.Social media platforms, particularly X, are ablaze with outrage.
Users have lambasted the BJP’s 30-year rule in Gujarat, pointing out that even under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s watch—himself a former Gujarat chief minister—basic infrastructure like the Gambhira Bridge was allowed to decay. Critics argue that the state’s obsession with grandiose projects has come at the expense of maintaining existing assets, endangering lives in the process.A Call for AccountabilityThe Gujarat BJP government cannot hide behind press releases or hollow assurances of “action.”
The Gambhira Bridge tragedy demands accountability at the highest levels. Why were repeated complaints ignored? Where were the funds allocated for infrastructure maintenance?
How did a bridge known to be in a “dangerous and critical condition” remain open to traffic?
These questions deserve answers, not evasions.The government’s response so far—deploying fire brigades and rescue teams after the fact—rings hollow when juxtaposed against years of inaction. The BJP’s claims of “Vikas” (development) stand exposed as a cruel mirage, with Gujarat’s citizens paying the price for their complacency. As one X user poignantly noted, “From Bihar to Gujarat, bridges fall, flyovers fail. India deserves strong infrastructure, not Modi’s mess.
”Beyond Gujarat: A National Concern
The Gambhira Bridge collapse is not just a Gujarat issue; it is a wake-up call for the nation. Across India, aging infrastructure is crumbling under the weight of neglect, while governments prioritize flashy projects over essential maintenance.
The BJP, which rules both Gujarat and the central government, must answer for its skewed priorities. If the “Gujarat Model” is a blueprint for India, the Gambhira tragedy is a stark warning of what lies ahead unless course correction is swift and sincere.
The Gujarat BJP government’s failure to prevent the Gambhira Bridge collapse is a tragic culmination of years of negligence, arrogance, and misplaced priorities. Nine lives lost, countless others scarred, and a state left reeling—these are the consequences of a government that ignored its people’s cries for help.
Gujarat deserves better. India deserves better. It is time for the BJP to stop hiding behind its propaganda and start delivering the governance it has long promised. Until then, the ghosts of Gambhira will continue to haunt their legacy.
